THE  STORY 
OF  A  TOUNG  MAN 


"/#  a  manger  close  by,  and  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  lay  the  child,  asleep'' 

Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


THE  STORT 
OF  ^4  TOUNG 

(A  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

BY 

1LIFFORD   HOWARD 


With  a  Foreword  by 
'The  Reverend  Amory  H.  Bradford,  D.D. 

Illustrated  by 
W.  L.  Taylor  and  *?.  Guernsey  Moore 


BOSTON 

L.  C.  PAGE  SP  COMPANY 

MDCCCCII 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company 

* 

Copyright,  ipoi,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company 


Copyright,  IQOI,  by 
L.   C.  Page  £3*  Company  (Incorporated) 


^[  THE    STORT   OF  A    YOUNG   MAN  ACKNOWLEDG- 
FIRST  APPEARED  IN  «  THE  LADIES  MENT 
HOME   JOURNAL."      THE   AUTHOR 
WISHES     TO    ACKNOWLEDGE     THE 
COURTEST  OF  THE  EDITOR  IN  PER- 
MITTING HIM  TO  REPUBLISH  THE 
STORY  IN  ITS  PRESENT  FORM. 
«[T  MESSRS.  L.  C.  PAGE  &  COMPANY 
WISH     ALSO     TO     ACKNOWLEDGE 
THE    COURTESY  OF   "THE  LADIES 
HOME  JOURNAL"  BY  WHICH  THEY 
WERE  ABLE  TO  ARRANGE  FOR  THE 
USE  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  ILLUSTRA- 
TIONS. 


[9] 


THE  STORTOF^  TOUNG 


HIS  Story  of  a  Young  Man  fills  an     FOREWORD 
unoccupied  place  in  current  literature. 
The  life  of  Jesus  has  been  'written 


from  the  point  of  view  of  the  "Jew  and  of  the  Gentile, 
of  the  scholar,  the  devotee  and  the  theologian ;  it 
has  been  written  to  support  some  favorite  doctrine ; 
and  again  with  the  purpose  of  seeking  the  simple 
truth.  For  more  than  a  thousand  years  it  has  been 
a  subject  of  world-wide  inquiry. 
^[  So  far  as  I  know  this  differs  from  all  other  works 
of  its  kind.  There  has  been  one  teacher  in  the  sphere 
of  ethics  and  religion  whom  all  have  agreed  in  rec- 
ognizing as  the  most  potential  spiritual  force  which 
has  ever  appeared  on  this  planet.  Mr.  Howard  ap- 
proaches this  personage  exactly  as  he  would  any  other 


FOREWORD  historic  character,  and  asks,  What  were  the  incon- 
testable facts  in  his  career?  "Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
as  he  appeared  when  a  child,  a  youth,  a  young  man, 
bending  beneath  the  consciousness  of  a  mighty  mis- 
sion, is  the  subject  of  this  story. 
^T  As  it  concerns  only  the  humanity  of  Christ,  the 
narrative  rightly  ends  with  his  death.  If  any  in- 
quire why  it  does  not  go  further,  or  why  so  little  in- 
terpretation of  act  or  teaching  is  offered,  it  is  suffi- 
cient to  answer  that  the  author  has  endeavored  to 
place  the  more  conspicuous  facts  and  characteristics 
of  this  life  in  such  clear  relief  that  they  will  speak 
their  own  message  and  be  their  own  interpretation. 
^[  //  has  been  my  privilege  to  examine  this  story  in 
manuscript,  and  I  can  assure  those  who  may  wish 
to  read  it  that  it  is  accurate  in  its  statements,  vivid 
and  picturesque  in  its  style,  free  from  cant,  and  en- 
tirely reverent  and  earnest  in  spirit.  'This  story 


brings  back  again  the  conditions  in  which  Jesus    FOREWORD 
dwelt,  causes  ancient  events  to  be  reacted  before  our 
eyes,  and  with  vividness  makes  us  see  and  love  the 
young  man  as  if  he  were  living  still,  and  in  our  time 
were  going  about  doing  good. 

AMORT   H.  BRADFORD 

Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
of  Montclair,  New  Jersey 


[13] 


THE  SrORTOF^  TOUNG 


HE  Story  of  a   Young  Man"  is    the    EXPLANATION 

story  of  yesus  of  Nazareth.     It  is  not 
a  life  of  Christ,  in  the  usual  meaning 


of  that  term.  While  it  is  founded  solely  upon 
Scriptural  records,  it  makes  no  pretense  of  embody- 
ing all  that  is  contained  in  the  Gospels.  The  pur- 
pose of  the  story,  as  its  title  indicates,  is  to  portray 
yesus  as  the  man ;  to  'view  him  in  the  light  of  his 
humanity ;  and,  while  never  overlooking  his  divinity, 
to  set  forth  his  earthly  career  in  the  form  of  a  nar- 
rative recording  the  growth,  the  struggles,  the 
achievements  of  a  fellow  being  —  the  greatest  ever 
on  earth,  yet  a  fellow-being. 

f]~  Such  of  the  events  of  his  life  as  are  introduced 
have  been  chosen  with  a  view  to  illustrate  his  char- 
acter from  this  standpoint:  to  emphasize  his  won- 
drous personality  as  a  man,  and  at  the  same  time 


EXPLANATION    to  carry  forward  the  story  in  the  progressive  form 

of  an  unfolding  narrative.  To  have  recited  all  of 
the  incidents  connected  'with  the  life  of  the  Saviour 
'would  have  given  to  the  story  a  comprehensiveness 
and  a  redundancy  of  illustration  quite  out  of  keep- 
ing with  the  object  in  view.  Tet,  notwithstanding 
the  necessary  omission  of  much  that  is  related  in  the 
Gospels,  it  is  not  believed  that  any  representative 
feature  of  the  life  of  Christ  has  been  overlooked. 
^[  To  consistently  carry  out  its  design  the  story  is 
brought  to  a  close  with  the  death  of  Jesus.  The 
crucifixion  marks  the  completion  of  the  mortal  part  of 
bis  existence :  the  fulfillment  of  his  life  as  a  man. 
^  If  has  been  deemed  advisable  to  offer  the  forego- 
ing explanation,  in  order  that  all  who  read  The 
Story  of  a  Toung  Man  may  do  so  with  a  proper  un- 
derstanding of  its  purpose  and  its  character. 

THE  AUTHOR 


[i  6] 


THE  STORTOF^  TO  UNO  MAN 


"In  a  manger  close  by,  and  wrapped  in  LIST  OF 

swaddling  clothes,  lay  the  child,  asleep"  ILLUSTRATIONS 

(See  page  34)  Frontispiece 

A  Shepherd  29 

A  Wise  Man  49 

"  The  child  Jesus  had  grown  to  boyhood, 

fulfilling  the  fondest  hopes  of  his  parents. "  59 

A  Camel  Driver  67 

A  Hebrew  Woman  8  3 

A  Merchant  I  o  i 

A  Roman  Centurion  115 

"  Overcome  with  grief  and  bitter  disappoint- 
ment, Jesus  left  Nazareth."  1 27 

A  Fisherman  133 

Peter  151 

"  He  sank  upon  the  ground  in  the  anguish  of 

unutterable  sorrow' '  165 

L'7] 


LIST  OF  A  Pharisee  173 

ILLUSTRATIONS"-^  called  aloud,  in  a  'voice  vibrant  with 

divine  power, '  Lazarus,  come  forth  / '  203 

Caiaphas  2 1 9 

Judas  229 

Pontius  Pilate  237 
"  He  could  go  no  farther.    With  a  moan,  He 

sank  upon  the  ground,  exhausted"  243 


[18] 


THE  STORTOFst  TOUNG 


HE  broad,  open  court  of  the  vil-     CHAPTER 
lage  inn  was  a  scene  of  noisy  con-     ONE 
fusion.  Men,  women  and  children, 
preparing  for  their   night's  rest, 


moved  hither  and  thither  among  the  packs  and 
bundles  that  lay  strewn  upon  the  ground.  Belated 
travelers,  some  of  them  still  seated  upon  their 
beasts,  looked  about  anxiously  for  some  possible 
means  of  accommodation  at  the  already  over- 
crowded inn.  A  babel  of  many  sounds  and  voices 
rose  upon  the  evening  air.  The  yelps  of  dogs 
mingled  with  the  grunting  of  camels  and  the 
braying  of  restless  donkeys.  Men  were  talking  to- 
gether in  groups ;  others  were  loudly  calling  to 
one  another  or  giving  commands.  Servants  hur- 
ried back  and  forth,  jostling  and  pushing,  while 
impatient  hostlers  shouted  at  their  tired  animals 

[•9] 


The  Story  of      as  they  drove  them  into  the  stalls  that  were 
a  Toung  Man    ranged  about  the  three  sides  of  the  courtyard. 

[[  A  little  apart  from  the  throng,  and  half  con- 
cealed in  the  shadow  of  a  sheltering  nook,  was  a 
young  woman  seated  upon  a  donkey.  She  was 
dressed  in  the  simple  garb  of  a  Jewish  peasant. 
A  robe  of  homespun  material  covered  her  girl- 
ish figure,  while  a  light  wimple  encircled  her 
head  and  neck,  and  served  both  as  a  cover  and  a 
veil. 

! I  She  had  chosen  this  secluded  spot  to  await  the 
return  of  her  fellow-traveler,  who  had  hurried 
forward  in  the  hope  of  securing  accommoda- 
tions for  the  night. 

|j  She  was  evidently  a  stranger,  for  she  spoke  to 
no  one,  and  those  passing  near  went  by  without 
heeding  her,  except,  perhaps,  to  notice  that  she 
leaned  forward  wearily  on  her  pillion  as  one  ex- 
hausted with  a  long  journey,  and  that  the  beauty 
of  her  gentle  face  was  softened  with  the  touch- 

M 


ing  sadness  that  comes  of  patient  and  silent  suf-     ^e  Story  of 

fering- 

^T  Close  by  three  or  four  men  were  conversing 

in  earnest  tones.  She  appeared  neither  to  hear 
them  nor  to  be  aware  of  their  presence.  Her 
soft  blue  eyes,  filled  with  the  tender  light  of 
purity,  gazed  off  wistfully  into  the  depths  of 
heaven,  where  the  first  stars  of  night  were  al- 
ready dimly  twinkling.  Her  thoughts  were  not 
of  the  scenes  nor  of  the  people  about  her.  Was 
she  simply  dreaming  of  her  far-off  home  amid 
the  hills  of  Galilee,  or  was  her  soul  filled  with 
thoughts  of  vaster  and  of  deeper  import,  thoughts 
that  drew  her  near  to  God  in  solemn  reverie  ? 
f]~  Suddenly  she  became  conscious  of  the  words 
that  were  being  spoken  by  one  of  the  men  in  the 
little  group  near  by  : 

f]~  "Nay  nay;  speak  not  thus  doubtingly,  my  son. 
The  time  of  his  coming  is  already  fulfilled  as 
spoken  by  the  Prophets.  Yet  a  little  while  and 

[21] 


The  Story  of       the  Redeemer  of  Israel  will  appear  and  avenge 
a  Toung  Man     the  sufferings  of  his  people. 

"  Let  us  bear  patiently  our  tribulations,  and 
let  not  your  faith  nor  your  courage  fail  you.  Be 
strong,  and  fear  not ;  for  the  day  of  salvation  is 
at  hand.  Yea,  from  this  very  place,  this  town  of 
Bethlehem,  the  city  of  David,  will  he  come 
forth — the  Prince,  the  Messiah;  and  his  king- 
dom shall  triumph  over  all  the  kingdoms  of  the 
world. 

"Long  and  diligently  have  I  studied  the  Pro- 
phets and  the  signs,  and  I  say  unto  you  that  the 
hour  is  come  when  Israel  may  lift  up  her  voice 
and  cry  with  a  joyous  heart,  *  Behold,  the  words 
of  Isaiah  are  fulfilled ;  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  is  born  ! ' 

The  young  woman  clasped  her  hands  in  an 
ecstasy  of  silent  emotion.  Her  lips  moved  as 
though  repeating  the  words  she  had  just  heard. 
Then  a  faint  flush  mounted  her  pale  cheeks,  and 

[aa] 


with  a  smile  of  wondrous  joy,  illuming  her     The  Story  of 
countenance  as  with  a  radiance  of  divine  glory,    a  Young  Man 
she  lifted  her  eyes  to  heaven  in  soulful  adoration 
and  was  again  lost  in  reverie.  She  was  aroused 
by  the  gentle  touch  of  a  hand  and  the  voice  of 
a  man  tenderly  calling  "Mary!" 

With  a  smile  of  loving  recognition  she  an- 
swered softly,  "  Joseph  !  " 

"  It  is  as  they  told  us,"  said  the  man,  speaking 
slowly ;  "there  is  no  room.  I  have  searched 
through  the  town.  Every  house  is  filled,  and 
those  of  whom  I  asked  a  share  of  their  lodge- 
ment turned  upon  me  a  deaf  ear.  I  care  not  for 
myself;  it  is  for  you,  Mary.  The  night  is  cold, 
and  you  are  faint,  for  we  have  traveled  far.  But, 
God  be  praised  !  you  shall  not  want  for  shelter. 
A  stable  on  yonder  side  of  the  inn  awaits  us.  It 
will  serve  till  the  morrow.  It  is  better  than  the 
open  night.  See,  the  keeper  approaches !  He  will 
show  us  the  way." 

[23] 


'The  Story  of      %  With  his  strong  arms  he  lifted  her  from  her 
a  Younv  Man     seat> an^  together  they  walked  across  the  crowd- 
ed courtyard,  the  keeper  leading  the  way  with 
the  donkey. 
^    The  stable  proved  to  be  no  more  than  a  cave 

—  a  natural  recess  in  the  side  of  a  hill,  roughly 
fitted  up  for  the  accommodation  of  cattle.  The 
drowsy  occupants  of  the  place  turned  their  large 
brown  eyes  inquiringly  upon  the  intruders,  who 
groped  their  way  by  the  fitful  light  of  a  rude 
lantern  to  the  farther  end  of  the  room. 

^|  To  both  husband  and  wife  the  journey  from 
their  home  in  Nazareth  had  been  one  of  many 
trials  and  hardships.  They  had  come,  not  of  their 
own  accord,  but  in  obedience  to  the  mandates  of 
a  hated  law,  that  rankled  deep  in  the  hearts  of  an 
oppressed  and  downtrodden  nation,  requiring  all 
Jews  to  be  enrolled,  that  they  might  be  taxed 
for  the  support  of  their  Roman  —  their  heath-en 

—  masters.  Mary  and  Joseph  were  both  of  the 

N] 


house  of  David,  and  were  therefore  .obliged  to     <j*fie  Story  of 
register  at  Bethlehem,  the  home  of  their  royal     a  Young  Man 
ancestor,  in  accordance  with  a  provision  of  the 
law  that  each  person  must  be  enrolled  at  his 
family  town. 

fj"  They  were  poor  and  unaccustomed  to  travel- 
ing, and  the  bleak,  chilling  winds  and  frequent 
rains  of  the  winter  season  added  to  the  trials  and 
discomforts  of  their  slow-plodding  journey  of 
several  days  across  the  dreary  plains  and  moun- 
tains. Joseph  had  traversed  the  entire  distance 
on  foot ;  while  Mary,  too,  ofttimes  obliged  to 
dismount,  because  of  dangerous  or  impassable 
roads,  had  walked  many  miles  through  rain- 
sodden  valleys  and  over  the  steep  and  rugged 
passes  of  the  Judean  hills. 

*\  And  now,  arrived  at  their  journey's  end,  faint, 
footsore  and  disheartened,  they  found  them- 
selves alone  —  without  friends,  strangers  in  a 
strange  place.  No  kindly  voice  to  greet  them ; 

[25] 


The  Story  of  no  one  to  bid  them  welcome.  No  familiar  face, 
a  Young  Man  n°  landmark  to  cheer  their  drooping  hearts, 
and  nowhere  to  rest  their  weary  bodies  save 
with  the  beasts  of  the  field  upon  the  floor  of  a 
dark  and  cheerless  stable. 
I  What  wonder  that  the  young  and  gentle  wife, 
yielding  at  last  to  fatigue  and  physical  suffering, 
and  overcome  with  a  sense  of  her  desolation  in 
the  hour  of  life's  greatest  trial,  sank  upon  her 
meagre  bed  of  straw,  and,  burying  her  face  in 
her  hands,  sobbed  as  a  child  —  with  none  to 
offer  comfort,  save  him  who  sat  beside  her  in 
helpless  sympathy. 

|  Gradually  the  courtyard  became  quiet.  The 
uproar  and  commotion  ceased.  The  weary  trav- 
elers and  wayfarers  stretched  themselves  upon 
their  pallets  beneath  the  roof  that  extended 
along  the  northern  end  of  the  inclosure  and 
formed  the  sleeping-quarters  of  the  inn. 


The  stormful  clouds  that  had  hung  low  and     The  Story  of 
threateningly  over  the  hills  drifted  apart  and     a  Toung  Man 
melted  slowly  away  into  the  deep  cerulean  of 
night;  and  out  of  the  darkness  came  the  stars,  the 
immortelles  of  Hope,  blossoming  in  the  fields 
of  heaven. 

The  wintry  wind  that  all  day  long  had  swept 
in  violent  gusts  across  the  mountain  ridge  now 
died  away,  and  in  its  place  there  came  a  breath 
of  gentle  warmth,  bringing  with  it  the  dreams 
of  flowers  and  of  music. 

I  No  sound  disturbed  the  tranquil  night  save 
ever  and  anon  a  far-off  shepherd's  call  across 
the  hills.  A  solemn  stillness,  a  spirit  of  celestial 
harmony,  now  breathed  upon  the  dark  immen- 
sity of  night.  Then  over  all  there  came  a  won- 
drous peace,  a  sense  of  infinite  repose,  filling 
the  heavens  as  with  a  breath  from  Paradise.  And, 
lo  !  the  sorrowing  and  expectant  world  slept 
on  and  heeded  not. 


The  Story  of  IT  ^^e  ^rst  ^amt  traces  °f  tne  coming  dawn 
a  Young  Man  were  softly  stealing  above  the  shadowy  hills 
when  the  voices  of  men  were  heard,  hurrying 
by  and  speaking  in  anxious  tones  : 
fT  "  Where  is  the  cave  ?  Show  us  the  place  ! 
Aye,  yonder  it  is  !  Come,  let  us  hasten,  that 
we  may  find  him  !  " 

f[  Then  they  passed  out  of  hearing,  and  those 
who  were  awakened  from  their  slumbers  fell 
back  to  sleep  thinking  that  they  had  but 
dreamed. 

f[  But  with  the  dawn  of  the  day  the  voices 
came  again  —  this  time  animated,  exultant,  as 
in  the  announcement  of  great  and  joyful  news. 
They  were  the  voices  of  shepherds,  and  the 
men  and  women  who  were  now  astir,  prepar- 
ing for  travel  or  going  about  their  daily  occu- 
pations, beheld  in  their  midst  four  or  five  of 
these  lowly  herdsmen  —  men  of  rude  and 
unkempt  appearance,  armed  with  heavy  crooks 

[28] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  SHEPHERD 


and  clad  in  sheepskins  that  hung  loosely  from     cffc  gf0ry  Of 
their  shoulders  and  were  girded  at  the   waist    a  Younv  Man 
with  a  broad  belt,  leaving  the  arms  and  legs 
unprotected. 

^]"  But  though  crude  of  speech  and  manner, 
these  men  were  of  gentle  heart,  for  their  calling 
was  one  of  tenderness  and  care,  and  their  souls 
—  knowing  little  of  the  world  —  were  filled 
with  the  poetry  of  Nature  ;  with  the  music  and 
the  sunshine  of  the  fields,  that  drew  them  ever 
close  to  God  in  confident  communion. 
^[  And  now  as  they  spoke,  addressing  the 
curious  and  inquisitive  throng  that  gathered 
about  them,  their  heartfelt  emotion,  their  simple, 
trustful  joy  inspired  their  tongues  with  an  elo- 
quence that  thrilled  the  hearts  of  their  hearers 
with  wondering  awe. 

^j~  "  Behold,  as  on  the  hills  of  Bethlehem  we 
watched  our  flocks,  suddenly  there  shone  within 
the  heavens  a  great  and  wondrous  light  —  a 

[31] 


The  Story  of  light  as  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord  ;  and,  lo  !  an 
a  Young  Man  angel  came  and  stood  before  us. 

|[  "  Then  were  we  sore  afraid,  and  hid  in  terror, 
knowing  not  the  portent  of  this  marvel.  But 
hark  !  the  angel  spoke  to  us  and  bade  us  have 
no  fear  ;  and,  lo  !  his  words,  his  tidings,  were  of 
wondrous  joy — '  Behold,  the  Saviour,  Christ 
the  Lord,  this  day  is  born/ 

[[  "  And,  lo  !  that  we  might  have  a  sign  where- 
by to  seek  the  new-born  King,  the  angel  spoke 
again  to  us  and  said  that  we  should  find  him 
wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes  lying  in  a  manger 
in  the  town  of  Bethlehem. 

(]""  Then,  behold,  the  heavens  opened  and  we 
saw  the  heavenly  host,  a  multitude  of  angels ; 
and  all  the  firmament  was  filled  with  music  and 
with  voices  praising  God. 

[f  "  Then  quickly  we  made  haste  and  came  to 
Bethlehem.  And  there,  in  yonder  stable,  we  be- 
held the  new-born  child  lying  in  a  manger,  as 

[32] 


was  spoken  by  the  angel  of  the  Lord.  And  by     Tfo  Story  of 
this  sign  we  knew  that  he  was  Christ,  the  King,     a  Younv  Man 
and  straightway  did  we  worship  him." 

|rThe  marvelous  story  of  the  shepherds  quickly 
spread.  Men  and  women  discussed  it  eagerly  and 
earnestly.  Some  of  the  more  curious  visited  the 
cave.  It  was  true ;  a  child  had  been  born  there 
during  the  night.  But  whose  child  was  it?  To 
what  family  of  Israel  did  it  belong  ?  No  one  ap- 
peared to  know.  The  mother  was  a  stranger,  a 
peasant  from  Nazareth. 

i  Then  doubts  arose.  Many  questioned  the  re- 
ality of  the  shepherds'  vision  upon  the  hills. 
"They  are  but  dreamers.  Why  did  not  we  hear 
and  see  these  wondrous  things?  Is  it  thus  a  king 
is  born  —  in  a  stable,  in  a  manger?  The  child  is 
as  any  other  child!  No,  no;  the  Messiah,  the 
King  of  Israel,  will  come  as  a  Prince,  in  the 
splendor  of  the  royal  house  of  David,  and  in  the 
might  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  !  " 

[33] 


The  Story  of          Then  they  smiled  at  the  momentary  credulity 

a  Young  Man     tnat  had  entered  their  hearts,  and  they  mocked 

those  who  were  still  inclined  to  believe;  and  ere 

long  the  subject  ceased  to  be  discussed,  and  the 

story  was  dismissed  as  an  idle  tale. 

Within  the  cave,  now  dimly  lighted  with  the 
morning  sun,  the  mother  lay  sleeping  upon  her 
pallet  of  straw.  All  trace  of  pain,  all  sign  of  suf- 
fering, was  gone.  A  faint  smile  hovered  about 
her  gentle  lips,  imparting  to  her  fair,  young 
face  a  beauty  that  was  more  than  mortal.  Her 
bosom  rose  and  fell  in  peaceful  slumber.  Her 
trials,  her  sorrows  were  forgotten.  She  slept  the 
dreamless  sleep  of  perfect  joy — the  joy  of 
motherhood. 

^j"  In  a  manger  close  by,  and  wrapped  in  swad- 
dling clothes,  lay  the  child,  asleep. 

The  husband  stood  near.  With  an  expression 
that  spoke  of  mingled  wonder  and  reverence  he 
looked  upon  the  slumbering  infant ;  and  then, 

[34] 


letting  his  gaze  rest  upon  her  who  lay  sleeping     Tfa  Sfory  of 
at  his  feet,  his  eyes  filled  with  tears — tears  of    a  Young  Man 
tender  sympathy  and  love — as  he  murmured, 

"Mary!" 


[35] 


T  was   a  bright  morning  in  the    CHAPTER 
early  springtime.  The  fields  were    TWO 
green  with  sprouting  wheat  and 
barley,  and  the  verdant  meadow- 


lands  sparkled  with  dew.  Wild  flowers  hedged 
the  paths  and  roadways,  and  the  scent  of  blos- 
soms filled  the  air.  Upon  the  mountains  the  oak 
and  the  hawthorn  were  putting  forth  their  ten- 
der leaves,  and  the  silvery  foliage  of  the  olive 
mingled  with  the  pink  of  the  almond  and  the 
peach,  while  leafing  vineyards  spread  their 
mantles  of  delicate  green  upon  the  terraced 
hills. 

It  was  amid  these  scenes  of  awakened  life  — 
so  different  from  those  that  had  surrounded  them 
on  their  way  from  Nazareth  six  weeks  .before 
—  that  Joseph  and  Mary  journeyed  slowly  for- 

[37] 


The  Story  of       ward  on  the  road  that  lay  between  Bethlehem 

a  Young  Man     and  Jerusalem.  The  way  was  short — not  more 

than  five  or  six  miles — but  they  had  started  at 

sunrise,  in  order  that  they  might  reach  the  city 

and  the  Temple  at  an  early  hour. 

To  Mary  the  day  was  one  of  sacred  import. 
Not  only  was  she  about  to  receive  the  holy  rite 
of  purification  as  a  mother,  but  her  child,  her 
son,  her  first-born,  was  on  this  day  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Lord.  According  to  the  custom  of 
her  people  she  had  been  obliged  to  wait  forty 
days  after  the  birth  of  her  child  before  under- 
taking this  momentous  errand.  And  now,  the 
period  of  seclusion  having  expired,  she  and  her 
loving  companion  were  wending  their  way  to- 
ward the  Temple  with  proud  and  happy  hearts. 
r  She  rode  upon  an  ox,  for  it  was  the  custom 
of  women  to  travel  thus  when  on  their  way  to 
the  Holy  City  to  be  purified.  Joseph  walked 
quietly  by  her  side,  now  and  again  looking  up 

[38] 


with  a  loving  smile,  or  pointing  out  to  her  some    ^he  Story  of 

place  of  interest.  a  Young  Man 

f[  Pressed  close  to  her  bosom  she  carried  her 

sleeping  child  in  her  arms. 

<[[  "Jesus!" 

f]~  She  spoke  the  name  to  herself  many  times  in 

the  tender  fervency  of  a  mother's  love.  And  now, 

as  she  repeated  it  and  gazed  down  at  the  little 

face  nestled  so  close  to  her  own,  a  glorious  vision 

rose  in  memory  before  her. 

^|  She  is  at  her  home,  in  Nazareth ;  and  as  she 

sits  alone  dreamily  spinning,  an  angel  appears 

before  her,  and,  in  a  voice  sweet  with  the  music 

of  heaven,  tells  her  of  the  joy  and  of  the  glory 

that  the  Lord  has  ordained  for  her.  She,  above 

all  women,  has  been  chosen  by  the  Most  High 

for  the  fulfillment  of  His  promise  to  the  children 

of  Israel.  Yea,  even  she,  a  virgin,  shall  conceive 

through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  shall 

bring  into  the  world  the  Messiah,  Christ,  the 

[39] 


The  Story  of  Saviour  of  Mankind  —  the  Son  of  God.  And  his 
a  Toung  Man  name  shall  be  called  Jesus,  and  he  shall  reign 
over  the  world,  and  his  kingdom  shall  endure 
forever. 

^[  Oft  had  she  repeated  to  herself  the  sacred  and 
cherished  words  that  were  spoken  to  her  in  this 
divine  annunciation  at  Nazareth ;  and  now  again 
they  rose  to  her  lips  as  she  gazed  from  the  help- 
less infant  at  her  breast  to  the  shining  walls  of 
the  Temple  of  Jerusalem  looming  before  her  in 
the  splendor  of  the  morning  sun. 

f[  Then  a  look  of  pensive  wondering,  a  vague, 
half-conscious  questioning,  stole  into  the  depths 
of  her  trustful  eyes,  and  a  momentary  shadow 
dimmed  the  sunshine  of  her  joyous  countenance. 

fj"  She  thought  of  theshepherds.  They  had  come; 
they  knew  it  was  he.  But  the  others  —  the  people 
of  Bethlehem  —  why  had  not  they  recognized 
him?  When  would  the  world  know?  When 
would  it  welcome  him  ? 

[4°] 


Entering  the  city  and  passing  through  the    The  Story  of 
narrow,  winding  streets,  Joseph  and  Mary  ar-    a  Toung  Man 
rived  ere  long  before  the  gates  of  the  great 
Temple. 

In  company  with  other  women  who  had  come 
on  a  similar  errand  Mary  tremblingly  approach- 
ed the  sacred  court  of  the  Israelites,  overawed  by 
the  grandeur  and  solemnity  about  her ;  and  there, 
offering  up  her  humble  sacrifice  of  two  doves, 
she  was  duly  declared  purified  according  to  the 
law. 

With  the  happy  and  unaffected  pride  of 
motherhood  she  now  brought  forward  her  child, 
the  infant  Jesus,  and  together  she  and  Joseph 
devoutly  presented  him  to  the  priests  for  re- 
demption, in  accordance  with  a  religious  ordi- 
nance requiring  the  payment  of  a  sum  of  money 
and  the  performance  of  certain  rites  as  a  means 
of  redeeming  or  releasing  a  first-born  child  from 
the  service  of  the  Lord,  for  according  to  an  an- 

[41] 


The  Story  of        cient  law  the  first-born  son  of  every  mother  be- 
a  Touny  Man     longed  of  right  to  God  or  the  priesthood. 

^ [  Their  duties  fulfilled,  Mary  and  Joseph  turned 
to  go,  that  they  might  return  to  Bethlehem 
while  the  day  was  yet  cool.  It  was  still  morn- 
ing, and  crowds  of  men  and  women  were  pass- 
ing in  and  out  of  the  Temple  courts,  going  to 
and  returning  from  their  devotions. 
f[  In  the  devout  and  simple  earnestness  of  her 
soul,  Mary  felt  that  her  child  had  been  given  to 
her  anew,  and  as  she  prepared  to  pass  out  amid 
the  throng  she  held  him  in  close  and  affection- 
ate embrace — her  son,  her  Jesus  ! 
^[  Had  any  one  noticed  him  ?  Did  any  one  know  ? 
Alas !  with  quivering  lips  the  innocent,  sensitive 
mother  told  herself  that  no  one  had  heeded  his 
presence  ;  that  no  one  knew  him.  No,  not  even 
the  priests,  the  servants  of  God,  who  had  blessed 
him. 
^[  Suddenly  she  heard  a  voice  calling  her.  It  was 

[42] 


that  of  an  old  man,  who  came  forward  with  tot-    ^he  Story  of 
tering  steps,  holding  out  his  arms  toward  the    a  Young  Man 
child. 

€  "  Praise  be  to  God ! "  he  cried.  "  It  is  he ;  it  is 
he !  Lo !  these  many  years  have  I  waited  that  I 
might  behold  the  consolation  of  Israel;  for  was 
it  not  revealed  to  me  that  I,  Simeon,  should  not 
see  death  until  I  had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ?" 
€  Then,  taking  the  child  in  his  trembling  arms, 
he  lifted  up  his  voice  in  a  fervent  prayer  of 
thanksgiving.  The  consolation  of  Israel  had 
come.  His  eyes  had  beheld  the  Christ,  the  light 
to  the  Gentiles,  and  he  who  through  faith  had 
waited  patiently  all  these  weary  years  was  ready 
now  to  die ;  to  give  up  the  burden  of  life  and  de- 
part in  peace. 

^[  His  feeble  voice,  tremulous  with  emotion, 
faltered  and  broke.  Tears  filled  his  dim-lit  eyes ; 
and  bowing  his  head  upon  his  chest  he  stood  for 
several  moments  silent  —  speechless ;  while  into 

[43] 


'The  Story  of       his  aged  face,  now  half  concealed  beneath  the 
a  Young  Man     l°ng  white  locks  that  clustered  about  it,  there 
came  a  light  of  celestial  happiness  —  the  dawn- 
ing light  of  the  life  to  come. 

Returning  the  infant  to  Mary  he  blessed  her 
and  her  husband,  and  spoke  with  prophetic  in- 
spiration of  her  child  and  of  herself,  and  to  the 
wondering  mother  his  words  were  filled  with 
strange,  half-fearful  meaning.  The  child  would 
be  the  cause  of  the  rising  and  the  falling  of  many 
in  Israel,  and  many  would  be  against  him,  and 
she,  too,  would  suffer. 

[[  As  he  finished  speaking  a  feeble,  white-haired 
woman,  bent  and  wrinkled  with  the  burden  of 
years,  approached  the  little  group.  She  seemed 
well  known  at  the  Temple,  for  all  who  passed 
her  addressed  her  reverently  as  "Anna."  She 
had  heard  the  words  of  Simeon  and  had  come 
forward  timidly  that  she  might  look  upon  the 
infant. 

[44] 


1  Earnestly  she  gazed  upon  the  peaceful,  inno-     <T"/^  Story  of 
cent  face,  and  then,  as  if  a  glorious  revelation     a  Younv  Man 
had  burst  upon  her  soul,  she  turned  her  eyes  to 
heaven  with  a  look  of  ineffable  peace,  and  in 
simple,  heartfelt  words  gave  thanks  to  God  that 
she  had  been  spared  to  see  this  day. 


[45] 


HE  evening  shadows  had  fallen     CHAPTER 
over  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  Mary     THREE 
and  Joseph  were  seated  in  their 
humble  dwelling,  with  the  infant 


Jesus  sleeping  peacefully  on  the  mother's  bosom. 
The  cavern  stable  that  had  served  them  as  a 
shelter  upon  their  arrival  at  the  over-crowded 
town  had  been  abandoned  soon  afterward  for 
lodgings  in  one  of  the  smaller  houses  of  Beth- 
lehem, where  Mary  might  await  in  comfort  the 
time  of  her  purification  ;  and  it  was  in  the  twi- 
light quietude  of  this  temporary  home  that  the 
little  family  of  Galilee  were  now  gathered. 
^~  It  was  the  evening  of  their  return  from  Jer- 
usalem. In  the  gathering  darkness,  through 
which  the  light  of  a  candle  shed  its  fickle  rays, 
Mary  and  Joseph  sat  together  and  talked  — 

[47] 


*The  Story  of  talked  of  him,  their  child.  They  were  rehears- 
a  Young  Man  mg  the  words  of  Simeon  and  Anna.  The  inci- 
dent at  the  Temple  had  wonderfully  impressed 
them,  and  their  hearts  were  full  of  emotion  as 
they  discussed  the  prophecies  spoken  by  the  in- 
spired patriarch. 

€  As  they  talked  they  became  aware  of  the 
sound  of  approaching  footsteps  and  voices. 
Along  the  stony  pathway  that  did  service  as  a 
street,  a  cavalcade  appeared  to  be  drawing  near. 
With  increasing  stir  it  advanced  toward  the 
house,  until  at  length  the  flare  of  torches  and 
the  tramp  of  many  feet,  mingled  with  a  clamor- 
ous babel  of  tongues,  aroused  Joseph  and  Mary 
from  their  thoughts. 

€   Before  Joseph  could  reach  the  door  to  ascer- 
tain the  cause  of  so  unusual  a  disturbance,  they 
heard  voices  speaking  at  the  threshold. 
•   "  See,  is  not  this  the  place?" 
^f -"It .is  even  so.  Let  us  enter." 

[48] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  WISE  MAN 


And  a  moment  later  three  men  entered  the    'The  Story  of 
room,  while  the  crowd  of  men  and  boys  that    a  Young  Man 
had  followed  them  gazed  through  the  open 
doorway. 

They  were  strangers,  foreigners,  dressed  in  a 
fashion  unknown  to  either  Mary  or  Joseph.  But 
by  the  richness  of  their  apparel  and  their  courtly 
bearing  it  was  evident  they  were  persons  of 
wealth  and  station. 

^[  But  why  had  they  come  to  this  poor  and 
lowly  place?  What  had  brought  them  here? 
The  husband  and  wife  drew  back  in  consterna- 
tion ;  but  in  a  moment  their  doubts  were  set  at 
rest  by  the  kindly  salutation  of  the  visitors. 
[  "  Fear  not.  Peace  and  joy  be  unto  you.  We 
come  seeking  him  who  is  born  King  of  the  Jews ; 
for  we  have  seen  his  star,  the  star  of  the  Messiah, 
the  Redeemer.  It  has  risen  in  the  East,  as  was 
spoken  by  the  prophets  of  old,  and,  lo!  it  has 
been  to  us  a  sign  and  a  guide." 


The  Story  of  ^[  Then  perceiving  the  child  as  he  lay  in  Mary's 
a  Young  Man  laP>  they  came  forward  reverently,  and  falling 
on  their  knees  they  worshipped  him,  and  placed 
before  him  the  offerings  they  had  brought  —  cas- 
kets of  gold,  of  frankincense  and  myrrh  — gifts 
such  as  men  offered  to  princes,  to  kings. 
^[  Then  rising,  and  blessing  the  husband  and 
wife,  they  took  their  departure  as  suddenly  as 
they  had  come. 

^[  Mary  and  Joseph  looked  at  one  another  in 
bewilderment.  Was  it  a  vision?  Had  they  but 
dreamed?  No,  the  precious  gifts  were  still  there, 
and  curious  neighbors  hastening  in  inquired 
eagerly  concerning  the  strange  visitors;  for  were 
they  not  Magi — wise  men  of  the  East — and 
had  they  not  entered  the  town  asking  for  an  in- 
fant king  ? 

f[  Overwhelmed  with  wonder  at  what  had  oc- 
curred, and  unable  at  first  to  grasp  its  full  im- 
port, it  was  not  until  she  was  again  alone  with 

[52] 


her  husband  and  her  child  that  Mary  awoke  to     ff^e  Story  of 
a  realization  of  its  glorious  significance.  a  Younv  Man 

The  angel  of  Nazareth  seemed  to  speak  again. 
The  words  of  the  annunciation  filled  her  soul 
with  their  rapturous  music. 

Behold,  was  it  not  true?  Why  had  her  heart 
ever  doubted,  ever  questioned?  And  as  she  fell 
asleep  that  night  her  soul  was  radiant  with  hap- 
piness and  hope,  and  her  dreams  were  rilled  with 
visions  of  glory  and  of  joys  without  number. 

1  Suddenly  her  dreams  vanished.  She  was  awake, 
and  about  her  was  the  blackness  of  night.  Joseph 
was  calling  her: 

j  "Make  haste!"  he  exclaimed.  "Take  the 
child,  and  let  us  fly ;  for  Herod,  the  King,  seeks 
to  destroy  him  !  Yea,  the  Lord  has  spoken  to  me 
in  a  dream.  Come,  let  us  depart  at  once  lest  it 
be  too  late.  We  must  leave  Bethlehem — aye, 
even  Judea  and  the  land  of  Palestine — and  flee 

[53] 


The  Story  of      mto  Egypt,  that  we  may  be  safe  from  the  wrath 

a  Young  Man    of  the  King." 

^[  With  fast-beating  heart,  and  spurred  by  a  wild 
terror  of  impending  danger,  Mary  hastily-  pre- 
pared for  their  sudden  departure ;  her  dreams, 
her  happiness,  her  hopes,  all  forgotten  in  this 
moment  of  peril.  She  did  not  stop  to  reason  nor 
to  ask  the  meaning  of  the  calamity  that  so  sud- 
denly threatened  to  befall  them.  She  only  knew 
that  her  child  was  in  danger;  that  some  malevo- 
lent fate  was  seeking  to  take  him  from  her. 
^[Not  for  a  moment  did  she  question  the  truth 
of  the  dream  as  a  warning  from  God ;  but  with 
mingled  emotions  of  thankfulness  and  fear  she 
gathered  her  precious  one  to  her  heart  and  stole 
forth  with  her  husband  into  the  dark  reality  of 
night,  away  from  the  sunshine  and  the  music  of 
her  soul's  happy  reverie. 

The  stars  were  still  shining,  and  no  sound 
disturbed  the  slumbering  town  as  the  fugitives 

[54] 


passed  through  the  gate  of  Bethlehem  out  into    'The  Story  of 
the  darkness  of  the  world,  alone,  unheeded  and    a  Young  Man 
unpitied,  save  by  the  Father  who  watched  over 
them  and  guided  their  trembling  footsteps. 


[55] 


HE  glory  of  a  summer's  day  shone    CHAPTER 
upon  the  town  of  Nazareth  —  the     pQ  JJR 
beautiful  City  of  the  Rose,  nestled 
among  the  sheltering  hills  of  Gali- 


lee. It  was  the  month  of  April,  the  time  of  the 
Passover,  and  the  town  was  astir  with  the  busy 
preparations  of  those  who  were  about  to  depart 
on  their  annual  journey  to  Jerusalem  to  attend 
the  great  national  festival. 
J  Among  the  many  yearly  feasts  celebrated  by 
the  Jews  there  was  none  that  appealed  more 
strongly  to  the  national  spirit  than  that  of  the 
Passover,  the  celebration  of  the  deliverance  of 
Israel  from  the  bondage  of  Egypt.  Not  only  did 
it  commemorate  one  of  the  most  momentous 
epochs  in  the  history  of  the  race,  but  to  the 
hearts  of  many  it  had  now  another  and  prophe- 

[57] 


The  Story  of      tic  significance  —  the  salvation  of  Israel  by  the 
a  Younv  Man    promised  and  long-expected  Messiah. 

*  Of  the  multitude  whose  thoughts  and  whose 
steps  turned  toward  Jerusalem  there  was  one 
household  in  the  little  town  of  Nazareth  to 
whom  the  occasion  was  of  more  than  ordinary 
interest.  To  the  family  of  Joseph,  the  carpenter, 
and  his  wife  and  boy,  the  feast  this  year  meant 
more  than  to  all  the  other  worshippers  of  Pal- 
estine. Jesus  was  going  with  his  parents  to  Jeru- 
salem. He  had  reached  the  age  that  permitted 
him  to  attend  the  festival;  and  in  the  devout 
and  humble  life  of  the  little  family  this  first 
journey  of  the  boy  to  the  Feast  of  the  Passover 
was  an  event  of  surpassing  moment. 
f[  Twelve  years  had  passed  since  Joseph  and 
Mary,  with  their  precious  charge,  had  returned 
from  their  refuge  in  Egypt,  whither  they  had 
fled  to  escape  the  murderous  jealousy  of  King 
Herod.  But  the  King  having  died  soon  after 

[58] 


*teThe  Child  yesus  had  grown  to  boy  hood,  fulfilling  the  fondest  hopes  of  his  parents" 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


their  flight  from  Bethlehem,  they  had  ventured  The  Story  of 
to  return  to  their  native  town  after  a  sojourn  of  a  Toung  Man 
but  a  short  while  in  the  strange  land  of  the 
Nile.  And  here,  amid  the  lowly  and  humble 
surroundings  of  the  carpenter's  home,  and  un- 
der the  tender  care  of  his  devoted  mother,  the 
child  Jesus  had  grown  to  boyhood,  fulfilling  the 
fondest  hopes  of  his  parents  in  his  unvarying 
goodness  and  in  his  dutiful,  loving  obedience. 
^[  He  had  now  come  of  age,  according  to  the 
Jewish  custom,  and  was  for  the  first  time  en- 
titled to  take  part  in  the  great  festival  of  which 
he  had  so  often  heard.  Passing  from  childhood's 
realm  of  home  and  school,  he  was  about  to  enter 
the  world  to  exercise  the  duties  and  privileges 
of  a  "  Bar  Mizvah,"  or  "  son  of  the  command- 
ment." 

^[  To  Mary  and  Joseph  the  occasion  was  one  of 
unmingled  happiness,  fraught  with  glowing 
promises  of  the  future  ;  and  it  was  with  glad  and 

[6,] 


The  Story  of      thankful  hearts  that  they  set  forth  for  Jerusa- 
a  Toung  Man     lem  accompanied  by  their  son.  He  was  now  a 
member  of  the  congregation  —  their  boy,  their 
Jesus  ;  the  light  and  the  joy  of  their  lives. 

To  the  boy  himself  it  was  the  realization  of 
an  ideal.  In  common  with  all  Jewish  children, 
his  training  from  early  infancy  had  been  imbued 
with  religion.  His  first  knowledge  was  of  God, 
the  Father.  It  was  of  Him  that  the  mother  spoke 
and  sang  to  the  child  while  yet  she  carried  him 
in  her  arms.  The  stories  to  which  he  listened 
at  her  knee  were  the  stories  of  Jehovah's  love 
and  mercy.  From  his  baby  days  he  had  seen  on 
the  doorpost  of  the  house  a  little  metal  cylinder, 
the  Mesusah,  with  the  name  of  the  Most  High 
inscribed  upon  it,  and  had  noticed  that  every 
one  who  came  or  went  touched  the  sacred  name 
with  his  finger,  and  then  kissed  the  finger  and 
repeated  a  short  prayer.  The  conversation  in  the 
household,  while  he  sat  at  meals  with  his  par- 


ents  or  assisted  them  in  their  daily  work,  was    The  Story  of 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  mighty  deeds  of  the    a  Young  Man 
great  men  of  Israel,  and  at  school  the  Scriptures 
formed  the  subject  of  all  his  lessons. 

Of  a  gentle,  sensitive  nature,  his  childish  heart 
responded  in  unquestioning  reverence  to  these 
holy  influences  of  his  daily  life.  His  love  for  the 
Father — a  love  instilled  at  his  mother's  breast 
— grew  ever  stronger  and  more  earnest  with 
the  unfolding  of  his  devout  nature.  It  was  the 
thought  that  he  was  now  one  of  the  Father's 
congregation — that  he  was  entitled  to  take 
part  in  the  devotions  that  would  bring  him  in- 
to closer  communion  with  God  —  that  appealed 
most  strongly  to  the  boy  and  filled  his  soul  with 
a  joyful  enthusiasm,  as  on  this  bright  summer's 
day  he  took  his  place  with  Joseph  and  Mary  in 
the  company  that  was  leaving  Nazareth  to  at- 
tend the  Passover. 
f  As  he  passed  down  the  narrow,  rugged  path 

[63] 


The  Story  of  from  the  mountain  village,  and  out  upon  the 
a  Toting  Man  great  plain  below,  his  heart  bounded  with  boy- 
ish delight.  It  was  his  first  journey  from  home, 
his  first  sight  of  the  world,  and  all  Nature  seemed 
to  rejoice  with  him  and  to  be  in  harmony  with 
his  joyous  spirit. 

^[  The  earth  was  aglow  with  its  richest  blossoms, 
decking  the  green-mantled  hills  and  plains  with 
a  wild  profusion  of  color,  and  filling  the  soft, 
warm  air  with  a  dreamy  perfume.  Fields  of 
ripening  grain  rippled  in  the  gentle  summer 
breeze,  and  the  vineyards  and  the  orchards  up- 
on the  hillside  lent  their  delicate  and  varied 
tints  of  foliage  and  fruit  to  the  rich  coloring  of 
the  landscape,  while  from  the  trees  and  hedges 
and  across  the  fields  and  from  the  deep  blue  of 
heaven  came  the  warble  and  the  song  of  birds, 
flooding  the  air  with  a  melody  of  gladness. 
fj"  The  flowers,  the  trees,  the  birds  were  to  the 
boy  as  friends  in  a  strange  place.  He  knew  them 

[64] 


all.  They  were  the  same  as  those  in  the  gar-     <j^  Sf0rv  Of 
dens  and  fields  at  home,  and  he  greeted  them     a  Younv  Man 
in  happy  surprise  as  he  beheld  them  on  every 
hand    amid    the  new   and    unfamiliar    scenes 
through  which  he  was  passing. 
fT  Like  all  children  of  Galilee  the  greater  part 
of  his  daily  life  was  spent  in  the  open  air,  among 
the  glories  of  Nature,  where  he  had  learned  to 
know  and  to  love  the  works  of  the  Creator.  In 
the  delightful,  semi-tropical  climate  of  Pales- 
tine there  was  but  little  need  for  the  shelter  of 
a  roof  during  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  and 
the  dwellings  of  the  poor  and  humbler  classes 
were  accordingly  of  the  simplest  and  most  prim- 
itive style. 

f  f  Many  of  the  houses  in  the  towns  and  villages 
through  which  the  travelers  passed  were  similar 
to  those  of  Nazareth — small,  square,  one-story 
buildings,  covered  with  flat  roofs,  which  were 
reached  by  flights  of  steps  on  the  outside.  Each 

[65] 


The  Story  of       dwelling  consisted  of  one  room,  the  open  door- 

a  Young  Man     wav  of  which  was  the  only  source  of  light  and 

air,  for  there  were  no  windows;  and  this  one 

room  was  made  to  serve  for  all  the  purposes  of 

domestic  life. 

Joseph's  house  was  one  of  this  kind,  for  Jo- 
seph was  a  man  of  but  few  possessions,  depend- 
ing for  his  daily  bread  upon  the  small  and 
uncertain  income  of  his  humble  trade.  And  it 
was  in  such  a  home  as  this,  devoid  of  all  luxu- 
ries and  offering  only  the  bare  comforts  of  life, 
that  Jesus  was  brought  up ;  inured  to  privations, 
and  taught  from  early  childhood  the  necessity 
of  labor  and  self-sacrifice. 

^[  Over  hills  and  through  valleys,  and  along  the 
banks  of  the  beautiful  and  historic  Jordan,  the 
pilgrims  from  Nazareth  slowly  wended  their 
way  toward  Jerusalem,  resting  at  night  by  the 
roadside  under  booths  of  mats  or  leafy  branches, 
and  starting  forward  again  at  sunrise. 

[66] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  CAMEL 
DRIVER 


^|"  They  joined  themselves  with  other  parties    <Tfre  Story  of 
on  the  way,  until  there  was  a  great  concourse    a  Young  Man 
journeying  on  together,  some  riding  on  camels, 
and  others  on  mules  or  horses,  but  the  great  ma- 
jority traveling  afoot ;  while  here  and  there,  ac- 
companying the  procession,  were  sun-browned 
shepherds  with  their  flocks  of  lambs  or  goats 
destined  for  the  sacrificial  feast. 
^]~  On  the  fourth  day  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
Holy  City,  shining  white  in  the  sunlight  on  its 
sacred  hills.   With   one   accord   the   pilgrims 
raised  their  voices  in  a  glad  shout  of  hosanna  ; 
and  as  they  passed  down  through  the  outlying 
gardens  and  orchards  they  joined  together  in 
the  singing  of  a  familiar  psalm,  and  approached 
the  gates  of  the  city  amid  the  inspiring  chorus 
of  thousands   of  voices  and  the  sweet-toned 
music  of  the  flute-players,  who  were  always  to 
be  found  in  a  company  of  travelers. 
^T  An  enormous  throng  pressed  through  the  gates 

[69] 


The  Story  of  and  filled  the  narrow  streets.  Companies  and 
a  Younv  Man  caravans  had  been  arriving  for  days,  and  the  city 
swarmed  with  a  vast  multitude  of  worshipers 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  and  the  world  ; 
while  thousands  of  pilgrims,  unable  to  find 
accommodations  within  the  walls  of  the  city 
itself,  camped  upon  the  surrounding  slopes. 
^[The  Feast  of  the  Passover  lasted  a  week,  and 
the  travelers  from  Nazareth  arrived  in  ample 
time  to  prepare  for  the  celebration  of  the  Pas- 
chal supper,  which  was  eaten  on  the  night  pre- 
ceding the  opening  day  of  the  festival.  At  this 
supper  from  ten  to  twenty  persons  sat  down  to- 
gether as  one  family  and  ate  of  a  roasted  lamb 
with  bitter  herbs  and  unleavened  cakes,  in  re- 
membrance of  the  night,  fifteen  hundred  years 
before,  when  the  Children  of  Israel  partook  of 
a  similar  meal  on  the  eve  of  their  flight  from 
the  land  of  bondage;  that  fateful  night  when  the 
Angel  of  Death  passed  over  the  houses  of  the 

[70] 


Israelites  and  slew  all  the  first-born  of  the  Egyp-     ffc  Story  of 
tians,  because  of  Pharaoh's  refusal  to  set  free  the     a  Younv  Man 
chosen  people  of  God. 

^  Jerusalem,  the  Holy  City,  the  great  metropo- 
lis of  Palestine,  with  its  life  and  turmoil,  its  gran- 
deur, its  multitude  of  people  and  its  historic 
associations  would  at  any  time  have  proved  a 
revelation  and  a  source  of  wonder  to  a  simple 
country  lad  beholding  it  for  the  first  time  ;  but 
at  the  present  season,  when  its  population  was 
swelled  to  many  times  its  usual  size,  and  a  spirit 
of  festive,  religious  enthusiasm  pervaded  the  air, 
it  could  not  but  have  inspired  an  intense  interest 
on  the  part  of  a  boy  like  Jesus,  devout  and  im- 
pressionable, who  from  early  childhood  had 
heard  of  the  greatness  and  the  glory  of  the  Holy 
City  and  had  longed  for  the  time  to  come  when 
he  might  set  foot  within  its  sacred  precincts. 
^[  All  through  the  days  and  nights  of  the  festi- 
val his  interest  in  the  scenes  and  incidents  about 


The  Story  of  him  never  flagged,  but  with  every  hour  his 
a  Young  Man  emotions,  his  impressions  grew  stronger  and 
more  vivid.  A  subdued  excitement  pervaded 
his  being.  It  was  all  so  strange,  so  wonderful,  so 
different  from  anything  he  had  ever  seen  or  ex- 
perienced in  the  quiet  village  home  in  far-away 
Galilee;  and  as  he  passed  along  the  crowded 
streets  with  their  busy  shops  and  stalls,  and 
mingled  with  the  vast  throngs  of  people,  repre- 
senting all  nations  of  the  earth  and  all  degrees 
and  conditions  of  humanity,  his  mind  was  ab- 
sorbed in  constant  wonder  and  delight. 

[  But  of  the  many  sights  and  objects  that 
claimed  his  attention  there  was  one  that  took 
precedence  over  all  others;  one  spot  toward 
which  his  thoughts  and  his  steps  constantly 
turned  with  deepest  interest  and  reverence  — 
the  Temple,  the  house  of  God. 

[  This  grand  edifice,  the  chief  feature  and  glory 
of  Jerusalem  and  the  center  of  the  nation's 


hopes  and  affections,  stood  upon  a  hill  that  rose     Tfe  ^tory  of 

abruptly  from  the  city  like  an  island  in  the  midst     a  Young  Man 

of  a  sea  of  streets,  walls,  palaces  and  houses,  and 

crowned  by  a  mass  of  snow-white  marble  and 

glittering  gold,  rising  terrace  upon  terrace  in  a 

succession  of  courts,  each  surrounded  by  a  wall 

and  connected  one  with  the  other  by  a  broad 

flight  of  steps;  the  whole  forming  a  magnificent 

and  imposing  pile  that  gleamed  and  sparkled  in 

the  sun  in  dazzling  splendor. 

T  It  was  here,  in  the  sanctuary  of  the  Father, 
that  the  boy  found  his  greatest  pleasure.  The 
beauties  and  the  grandeur  of  the  building,  the 
impressive  ceremonies,  the  never-ending  stream 
of  worshipers  coming  and  going,  and,  above  all, 
the  sublime  sanctity  of  the  place,  appealed  with 
singular  force  to  the  boy  of  Nazareth,  and 
aroused  in  him  a  sense  of  mingled  awe  and  en- 
thusiasm. 

During  the  Passover  week  the  Temple  San- 

[73] 


The  Story  of  hedrin — an  ecclesiastical  tribunal  composed  of 
a  Younv  Man  rabbis,  or  doctors  of  the  Law — assembled  daily 
in  one  of  the  courts  of  the  Temple  and  there 
held  informal  discourse  with  the  public.  The 
listeners  sat  upon  the  floor,  ranging  themselves 
in  a  semicircle  about  the  doctors,  and  any  one 
was  permitted  to  make  remarks  or  ask  questions. 
.  f[  Theological  discussions  were  always  popular 
with  the  Jews,  and  no  one  claimed  greater  re- 
spect than  a  rabbi — one  whose  knowledge  of 
the  Law  and  the  Scriptures  entitled  him  to  in- 
struct others  in  those  matters  which  were  ever 
nearest  to  the  hearts  of  the  people;  for  nowhere 
were  religion  and  every-day  life  so  closely  inter- 
woven as  among  the  Jews. 

ff  It  may  readily  be  imagined,  therefore,  that 
these  gatherings  in  the  Temple  claimed  the  spe- 
cial attention  of  Jesus,  and  that  he  listened  with 
eager  heart  and  mind  to  the  words  of  the  learned 
rabbis.  Although  in  years  he  was  scarcely  more 

[74] 


than  a  child,  vet  his  pious,  earnest  nature  en-     — , 

*  The  Story  of 

dowed  him  with  a  maturity  of  thought  beyond 

J       m  J  a  Toung  Man 

that  usually  found  in  boys  of  his  age. 
f[  The  homely  discourses  among  the  neighbors 
in  Nazareth,  the  lessons  in  the  synagogue,  and 
the  simple  theology  and  teachings  of  his  parents, 
together  with  the  subtle  influence  of  Nature's 
gentle  spirit,  had  all  left  their  impress  on  his 
thoughtful  mind  and  imbued  him  with  a  re- 
ligion of  pure  and  lofty  ideals,  while  at  the  same 
time  they  had  awakened  in  his  heart  a  longing 
for  a  deeper  knowledge  of  God — for  an  under- 
standing of  many  of  the  mysteries  of  life  and 
being,  upon  which  he  ofttimes  pondered  in 
childish  meditation. 


[75] 


S  the  principal  religious  services  of    CHAPTER 
the  Passover  occupied  but  two  days 
it  was  not  necessary  for  pilgrims 
to  remain  in  Jerusalem  after  that 


time,  and  consequently  there  were  many  who 
returned  home  before  the  expiration  of  the  full 
period.  Mary  and  Joseph,  with  a  number  of 
friends  and  relatives  who  had  come  with  them 
from  Nazareth,  were  among  those  who  availed 
themselves  of  this  privilege,  and  they  started  on 
their  homeward  journey  about  the  fourth  day. 
«  In  the  tremendous  crowds  that  choked  the 
streets  and  rilled  the  roads  leading  out  of  Jerusa- 
lem, and  amid  the  confusion  and  excitement 
attending  the  simultaneous  departure  of  thou- 
sands of  persons  in  the  darkness  of  the  early 
morning,  it  was  next  to  impossible  for  mem- 

[77] 


The  Story  of  hers  of  a  company  to  remain  together.  In  the 
a  Toung  Man  pushing,  jostling  and  general  uproar  they  fre- 
quently became  separated,  and  it  was  only  when 
the  multitude  got  some  distance  beyond  the  city 
and  began  to  disperse  that  any  attempt  was 
made  to  unite  again  according  to  companies  or 
parties. 

^[  When,  therefore,  Mary  and  Joseph  discov- 
ered that  Jesus  was  not  with  them  it  did  not 
cause  them  any  special  uneasiness,  for  they  were 
assured  that  he  was  with  other  members  of  the 
company  somewhere  on  the  road.  But  when  at 
the  end  of  the  first  day's  journey  they  pitched 
their  little  tent  and  prepared  the  evening  repast 
they  supposed,  of  course,  he  would  rejoin  them. 
But  time  passed,  and  he  did  not  come. 
^[  Thinking  that  he  might  perhaps  be  tarrying 
with  some  of  the  relatives,  they  inquired  for  him 
among  the  other  members  of  the  family.  He 
was  not  with  any  of  them. 

[78] 


^~  Anxiously  now  the  parents  looked  for  him  in  fffc  gfory  of 
the  neighboring  booths  and  tents,  but  he  was  a  Younv  Man 
nowhere  to  be  seen.  Surely,  some  one  could  tell 
them  where  he  was.  They  asked  of  their  fellow- 
travelers  and  of  every  one  they  saw ;  but  no  one 
remembered  having  seen  the  boy. 
^[  Filled  with  anxiety  and  growing  alarm,  the 
parents  spent  a  wakeful  night,  striving  in  vain 
to  allay  the  apprehensions  that  crowded  upon 
their  thoughts.  And  when  morning  came  and 
there  was  still  no  news  of  him  they  waited  no 
longer;  there  was  now  but  one  answer  to  their 
questioning  fears  —  their  child  had  been  left  in 
Jerusalem.  They  must  return  at  once;  every 
moment  was  precious.  Even  now  it  might  be  too 
late;  and  leaving  the  company  to  proceed  on  its 
way,  they  hastened  back  toward  the  city,  im- 
pelled by  the  wildest  fears  and  forebodings. 

It  was  dark  when  they  reached  the  city.  They 
had  scanned  with  earnest  gaze  every  company, 

[79] 


'The  Story  of  every  family  they  had  met  on  the  road  during 
a  Toung  Man  tne  anxious,  long  day's  journey.  They  had 
stopped  and  spoken  to  many  concerning  their 
boy.  They  had  inquired  at  every  wayside  house, 
and  had  searched  amid  the  pilgrim  camps  out- 
side the  city  walls.  But  all  in  vain.  Now  dark- 
ness had  come  and  they  could  do  nothing  more 
until  the  morning.  And  then,  where  should  they 
look,  how  were  they  to  find  him,  amid  the  laby- 
rinths and  the  multitudes  of  Jerusalem  ? 
^[  Perchance  their  boy  was  suffering  and  in  want 
—  a  stranger,  a  mere  child,  alone  in  this  noisy 
and  bewildering  city — seeking  in  vain  for  his 
parents,  and  knowing  not  where  to  turn  nor 
what  to  do.  He  might  be  in  danger.  Some  acci- 
dent, some  calamity  might  have  befallen  him. 
The  awful  fate  that  had  threatened  his  infant  life 
twelve  years  before  came  to  the  minds  of  the  par- 
ents in  terrifying  vividness. 
^[  Distracted  with  grief  and  anxiety  they 

[so] 


searched  without  rest  for  two  whole  days ;  and     The  Story  of 
yet  no  tidings,  no  trace  of  their  child.  a  Young  Man 

fT  Faint  with  fatigue  and  sick  at  heart,  the  poor 
mother  was  almost  in  despair.  Yet  she  struggled 
on  by  her  husband's  side  as  they  pressed  through 
the  crowded  thoroughfares  and  up  and  down 
the  long  and  wearisome  flights  of  the  Temple 
steps,  searching,  inquiring  everywhere ;  retrac- 
ing their  steps  again  and  again;  looking  wist- 
fully, eagerly  on  every  side,  and  ever  and  anon 
calling  his  precious  name. 

•Where  could  he  be?  Why  did  they  not  see 
him  ?  Why  did  he  not  answer  ?  Was  he  forever 
lost  to  them,  their  wonderful,  their  beautiful  boy? 
fTBut  hark!  What  was  that  they  heard? 
fTThey  were  passing  through  one  of  the  Tem- 
ple courts.  From  the  farther  end  the  sound  of  a 
voice  reached  their  ears. 

f[  It  was  the  clear,  sweet  voice  of  a  boy —  their 
Jesus ! 

[81] 


The  Story  of  ^[  Hurrying  forward  with  eager  steps  they  came 
a  Young  Man  upon  a  group  of  men  gathered  about  the  rabbis 
of  the  Sanhedrin,  who  were  here  holding  their 
customary  school  for  public  discussion. 
^~  In  the  midst  of  the  assembly  was  the  boy  Jesus. 
He  was  talking,  and  all  were  listening  in  rapt 
attention. 

^[  He  was  addressing  the  rabbis,  asking  and  an- 
swering questions,  wholly  unmindful  of  the  audi- 
ence about  him,  and  oblivious  to  thesurpriseand 
wonder  he  was  creating.  A  boy,  a  country  lad, 
discussing  theology  with  the  doctors,  with  the 
gray-haired  scholars  of  the  Temple  ! 
^[  His  face  was  radiant,  and  his  soft,  expressive 
eyes  shone  with  a  rare  light  of  soulful  intelli- 
gence. He  talked  not  as  a  child,  but  as  one  of 
learningand  mature  judgment;  and  as  the  rabbis 
and  those  about  them  listened  to  his  words, 
clothed  in  the  music  of  a  voice  of  angelic  sweet- 
ness, they  were  lost  in  amazement  at  his  wis- 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  HEBREW 

WOMAN 


dom  and  his  eloquence.  Never  had  one  of  his     The  Story  of 
tender  years  been  known  to  display  such  power    a  Toung  Man 
of  expression,  such  depth  of  thought,  such  keen 
and  logical  perception  and  so  profound  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  Scriptures. 

His  listeners  regarded  him  in  marveling 
admiration.  None  ventured  to  interrupt  him. 
General  discussion  was  abandoned;  questions 
and  arguments  were  forgotten.  The  school  had 
become  a  profoundly  impressed  audience.  All 
interest  was  centered  upon  the  youth. 

Suddenly  a  low  cry  diverted  the  attention  of 
the  assembly.  The  boy  turned  quickly.  His 
mother  stood  near  him  with  outstretched  arms, 
and  the  next  moment  she  was  pressing  him  to 
her  sobbing  bosom. 

i  Amid  tears  of  joy  and  expressions  of  tender 
affection  the  parents  welcomed  him  back  to  their 
arms.  They  did  not  chide  him.  The  mere  re- 
cital of  the  sorrow  and  pain  they  had  suffered 

[85] 


'The  Story  of       on  his  account  was  sufficient  reproof  for  a  boy  of 
a  Young  Man     his  affectionate  nature.  He  would  never  will- 
ingly have  caused  them  a  moment's  uneasiness. 
|   But  why,  he  asked  in  innocent  surprise,  had 
they  thus  worried  about  him?  Why  had  they 
sought  him  ?  Did  they  not  know  that  he  was  at 
the  Temple  ?  Was  it  not  right  that  he,  who  was 
now  a  member  of  the  congregation,  should  be 
engaged  in  the  all-important  affairs  of  his  Father? 
i   Mary  and  Joseph  were  startled  at  the  subtlety 
of  his  questions.  They  were  at  a  loss  how  to  an- 
swer. There  was  a  depth,  a  mystery  of  meaning 
in  his  words  that  they  knew  not  how  to  inter- 
pret. 

To  his  earnest,  religious  mind,  absorbed  in  its 
lofty  aspirations,  it  seemed  so  clear,  so  evident, 
that  he  had  been  only  fulfilling  a  duty,  that  for 
the  moment  he  found  it  difficult  to  understand 
why  his  conduct  should  be  questioned. 

Yet  he  uttered  no  protest,  no  criticism.  They 
[86] 


were  his  parents,  and  his  heart  knew  only  deep     The  Story  of 
remorse  at  the  thought  that  he  had  caused  them    a  Young  Man 
to  suffer.  In  gentle  and  loving  obedience  he  left 
the  Temple  with  them,  forsaking  without  a 
murmur  the  discussion   in   which  he  was  so 
deeply  interested.  And  with  their  child  once 
more  beside  them,  Mary  and  Joseph  retraced 
their  steps,  and  together  the  little  family  jour- 
neyed back  to  Galilee. 

[  How  quiet,  how  restful,  and  withal  how 
strangely  different  the  village  of  Nazareth 
seemed  to  the  boy  upon  his  return  to  the  home. 
Though  he  had  been  absent  so  short  a  while  he 
had  entered  a  new  realm  of  thought  and  experi- 
ence. The  world  had  assumed  a  different  aspect. 
His  mental  vision  had  broadened;  a  new  light, 
a  dawning  revelation,  had  come  into  his  life. 


[87] 


T  was  again  the  time  of  the  Pass-    CHAPTER 
over.  Eighteen  years  had  passed    SIX 
since   the   first   visit   of  Jesus   to 
Jerusalem,   during   all   of  which 


time  he  had  continued  to  live  in  Nazareth, 
growing  up  to  manhood  amid  the  quiet  and 
impressive  surroundings  of  his  rural  home,  and 
following  in  the  humble  footsteps  of  his  parent 
as  a  carpenter. 

Once  more  the  Holy  City  was  thronged  with 
its  army  of  pilgrims,  and  the  courts  of  the 
Temple  swarmed  with  men  and  women  bent 
upon  the  performance  of  religious  duties.  The 
laws  of  the  Jews  called  for  a  multitude  of  cere- 
monial observances,  none  of  which  was  more 
important  than  the  offering  of  sacrifices ;  and 
at  this  season  of  the  year  the  outer  court,  or 

[89] 


The  Story  of       court  of  the  Gentiles,  was  given  over  to  dealers 


a  Young  Man 


^n  doves  and  cattle  and  other  sacrificial  animals 
for  the  benefit  of  the  worshipers  who  came  from 
a  distance  and  could  not  bring  their  offerings 
with  them.  In  this  court,  also,  the  money- 
changers plied  their  vocation  of  changing 
Roman  money  into  Jewish  coin,  which  could 
alone  be  used  for  the  Temple  tithes.  Very  little 
of  this  Jewish  money  was  in  circulation,  and 
consequently  nearly  all  of  those  who  came  to 
pay  their  yearly  dues  were  obliged  to  resort  to 
these  bankers,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  charge 
exorbitant  rates  for  their  services. 
~  The  use  of  the  Temple  for  these  mercenary 
purposes  had  developed  gradually  from  year  to 
year.  The  revenue  in  rent  and  taxes  derived  from 
this  source  had  grown  to  such  proportions  that 
the  Temple  authorities  were  loath  to  relinquish 
it,  and  accordingly  closed  their  eyes  to  the 
sacrilege  they  were  thus  tacitly  permitting. 

[90] 


The  day  of  preparation  for  the  feast  was  at     <^^e  Story  of 
hand,  and  the  court  of  the  Gentiles  was  filled    a  Young  Man 
with  a  noisy  assemblage.  Dealers  were  advertis- 
ing their  stock  in  loud  and  lusty  voices ;  buyers 
were  wrangling  and  disputing,  and  the  coarse 
shouts  of  drovers  added  to  the  general  uproar, 
while   the   clink   of   coins    and  the   cries   of 
animals   rose   above   the   din   of  the   jostling 
crowd. 

^~  Suddenly  a  hush  fell  upon  the  scene.  A  young 
man,  a  stranger,  appeared  within  the  court.  By 
common  impulse  all  eyes  were  turned  upon  him. 
Armed  with  a  small  lash,  which  he  had  hastily 
made  from  a  few  cords  picked  up  from  the  floor, 
he  strode  through  the  crowd  and  the  next  mo- 
ment was  driving  before  him  the  dealers  and 
their  animals. 

^|  "  Out ! "  he  cried  in  a  voice  of  commanding 
authority.  "An  end  to  this  defilement  of  the 
Lord's  holy  Temple  !  " 

[91] 


The  Story  of  Then  turning  upon  the  money-changers  he 

a  Young  Man  overthrew  their  tables,  scattering  their  money 
in  all  directions  upon  the  floor,  and  in  words 
of  stinging  denunciation  expelled  them  also 
from  the  court,  while  many  of  the  buyers  and 
onlookers  fled  in  consternation  before  the  wrath- 
ful indignation  of  this  unknown  man. 
[  For  a  moment  he  stood  defiant  amid  the 
startled  and  bewildered  crowd.  There  was  in 
his  look  and  in  his  bearing  something  so  ma- 
jestic, so  commanding,  that  none  dared  to  op- 
pose him.  Then,  with  an  expression  of  mingled 
pity  and  scorn,  he  passed  quietly  out  of  the  court 
and  disappeared. 

The  news  of  the  occurrence  spread  rapidly 
throughout  the  Temple,  and  from  there  into 
the  city  streets,  exciting  general  comment  and 
discussion. 

"Who  is  this  man?"  was  asked  on  all  sides. 
"Who  is  he  that  has  dared  to  do  this  thing?" 


n  a  short  time  came  answering  rumors  that  ar-^  Storv  of 
served  to  still  further  arouse  public  wonderment.  Toun?  Man 
*T"He  is  a  prophet,  a  man  gifted  of  God,  a 
worker  of  miracles.  Yea,  it  is  told  by  men  from 
Galilee  that  he  turned  water  into  wine  at  a  wed- 
ding feast  in  Cana,  and  there  are  those  who  say 
that  a  voice  spoke  to  him  from  Heaven  as  he 
stood  in  the  Jordan  to  be  baptized  of  John." 
fj"  John  was  a  man  who  at  that  time  was  attract- 
ing widespread  attention.  He  had  withdrawn 
from  the  world  and  was  leading  an  ascetic  life 
in  the  valley  of  the  Jordan,  whither  large  num- 
bers from  all  parts  of  the  country  flocked  to  see 
and  hear  him.  He  called  upon  his  fellow-men 
to  repent;  telling  them  that  the  Kingdom  of 
God  was  at  hand,  and  that  the  Messiah  was  soon 
to  appear  among  them.  His  words  of  warning 
and  his  persistent  prophecies  regarding  the  ad- 
vent of  the  Christ  aroused  no  little  agitation ; 
while  the  rite  of  baptism,  which  he  instituted 

[93] 


The  Story  of       as  a  svmbol  of  purification,  and  which  gained 
a  Toung  Man     ^or  ^m  tne  title  of  the  Baptist,  added  greatly 
to  his  notoriety. 

fl"  Speculation  regarding  the  young  man  in  the 
court  of  the  Gentiles  continued  with  unabated 
interest.  The  more  the  occurrence  was  discussed 
the  more  daring  and  more  wonderful  it  appeared. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  this  was  a  man 
of  no  ordinary  powers.  It  was  even  whispered 
that  the  Baptist  had  proclaimed  him  the  Mes- 
siah ;  that  he  had  pointed  him  out  as  the  Saviour 
of  whom  he  had  prophesied. 
fl"  Yet,  after  all,  was  he  not  simply  a  Galilean 
countryman  ?  There  were  those  in  the  city  who 
professed  to  know  him.  According  to  them  he 
was  but  a  carpenter  —  a  man  without  rank  or 
learning  —  Jesus,  the  son  of  Mary  and  Joseph 
of  Nazareth. 

fT  It  was  indeed  he  —  he  who  as  a  boy  had 
startled  the  doctors  with  his  wisdom,  and  who 

[94] 


now,  appearing  suddenly  from  a  life  of  obscur-     ^he  Story  of 
ity,  had  fearlessly  challenged  the  Temple  rulers    a  Youn?  Man 
by  his  bold  and  forcible  denouncement  of  wrong 
which  none  had  heretofore  had  the  courage  to 
oppose. 

ff  It  was  the  first  manifestation  of  a  sublime  and 
wondrous  purpose  that  had  long  animated  his 
being.  From  the  quiet  retirement  of  his  village 
home  he  had  looked  upon  the  world  through 
the  unclouded  vision  of  his  pure,  devout  life,  and 
had  beheld  with  earnest  solicitude  the  corrup- 
tion and  spiritual  degradation  that  everywhere 
surrounded  him.  His  tender,  sympathetic  heart 
was  filled  with  compassion  for  the  great  mass  of 
his  fellow-countrymen,  burdened  with  political 
and  social  oppression,  and  struggling  blindly 
for  the  light  amid  the  inconsistencies  and  abuses 
that  marked  the  religious  teachings  of  the  day. 
f[  His  whole  nature  thrilled  with  the  realiza- 
tion that  he,  the  carpenter  of  Nazareth,  must 

[95] 


The  Story  of      ta^e  uPon  himself  the  burden  of  his  people's  sal- 

a  Young  Man    vati°n-  He  felt — nay,  he  knew  with  the  surety 

of  divine   inspiration — that   in   him    lay   the 

power  to  redeem  mankind  from  its  thraldom 

of  sin  and  darkness. 

fl"  It  was  toward  the  accomplishment  of  this,  the 
sole  and  all-absorbing  purpose  of  his  life,  that 
the  early  years  of  his  manhood  had  been  de- 
voted to  study  and  contemplation.  In  his  quiet 
home  or  in  the  seclusion  of  the  fields  and 
wooded  hills  he  had  daily  sought  the  Father 
and  communed  with  Him  in  prayer.  It  was  to 
God  that  he  looked  at  all  times  for  guidance  and 
for  strength.  In  his  preparation  for  the  great  task 
before  him  he  was  ever  conscious  that  he  was 
but  carrying  out  the  will  of  the  Father  ;  that  to 
him  of  all  men  had  been  intrusted  the  uplifting, 
the  salvation  of  the  world;  that  in  him  the 
promise  of  God  to  His  people  would  be  made 
manifest. 

[96] 


^[  And  now,  clothed  in  the  might  of  a  definite     ffo  Story  of 
and  unalterable  determination,  he  had  entered     a  Younv  Man 
upon  his  Father's  appointed  task,  and  had  sig- 
nalized the  inauguration  of  his  mission  by  an  act 
of  reformation  at  once  so  daring,  so  vigorous,  so 
demonstrative  of  superior  power  and  authority, 
that  it  gained  for  him  immediate  public  recog- 
nition as  a  man  of  extraordinary  character. 
^  While  the  conscience-stricken  authorities  re- 
garded him  with  mingled  fear  and  resentment, 
because  of  the  rebuke  to  them  which  his  action 
so  clearly  implied,  the  people  themselves  looked 
upon  him  with  awe  and  admiration.  Nor  was 
this  feeling  on  their  part  in  any  way  diminished 
when,  later,  he  again  appeared  in  the  Temple 
and  voluntarily  addressed  the  men  and  women 
who  quickly  gathered  about  him  in  crowds, 
curious   to  look   upon   him  and  listen  to  his 
words. 
^[  With  the  same  fearlessness,  with  the  same 

[97] 


The  Story  of  irresistible  earnestness  that  had  characterized  his 
a  Toung  Man  ^rst  appearance  among  them,  he  proclaimed  to 
them  the  advent  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven. 
The  day  of  the  redemption  of  Israel  had  arrived. 
The  new  era  which  the  prophets  had  predicted 
was  at  hand.  The  time  of  waiting  was  fulfilled. 
^[  His  hearers  were  amazed.  They  looked  one 
to  another  with  inquiring  glances.  What  was 
the  meaning  of  this  ?  Could  it  be  true  ?  Who 
was  this  man  that  dared  to  utter  words  fraught 
with  such  stupendous  import? 
^J  The  boldness  and  the  gravity  of  his  utterances 
excited  unbounded  astonishment.  But  heedless 
of  the  commotion  thus  aroused  he  continued  to 
address  the  crowds  that  flocked  about  him,  di- 
recting his  remarks  particularly  to  those  of  the 
humbler  classes.  For  them  he  had  a  message 
of  hope  and  of  cheer.  He  spoke  to  them  of  a 
brighter,  happier  life.  He  told  them  that  he  had 
come  to  show  them  the  way;  to  save  them  from 

[98] 


the  wrongs  and  miseries  of  the  world;  to  lead     The  Story  of 
them  from  the  darkness  of  evil  to  the  glad  sun-     a  Young  Man 
light  of  truth  and  love. 

^]~As  he  talked  many  of  his  hearers  pressed 
closer.  They  would  hear  more,  more.  His  words 
to  them  glowed  with  the  radiance  of  spiritual 
comfort;  their  hearts  beat  with  eager  hope. 
Never  had  they  listened  to  language  of  such 
quickening  power,  such  glorious  promise. 
^[Yet  it  was  not  alone  to  the  poor  and  the 
downtrodden  that  his  words  appealed.  The  re- 
markable statements  and  teachings  of  this  un- 
known man,  who  had  so  suddenly,  so  mysteri- 
ously appeared  in  their  midst,  attracted  the 
attention  of  all  who  heard  him.  Even  among 
the  Pharisees — the  leading  exponents  of  reli- 
gion— bound  as  they  were  to  their  narrow  and 
dogmatic  ideas,  there  were  many  who  were 
deeply  impressed  with  the  force  and  the  novelty 
of  his  preaching. 

[99] 


The  Story  of  ^T  ^ne  °^  tnem»  Nicodemus  by  name,  a  man  of 
a  Young  Man  wealtn  anc^  learning  and  of  high  rank  among 
the  Jews,  went  to  Jesus  at  night,  in  order  that 
he  might  speak  with  him  alone  and  learn  from 
him — this  young  man,  this  Galilean  stranger — 
the  full  truth  and  meaning  of  his  utterances, 
which  had  made  so  profound  an  impression  upon 
the  Pharisee  that  he  felt  convinced  that  in  Jesus 
he  beheld  one  who  spoke  through  the  inspira- 
tion of  God. 

fT  There  were  many  to  whom-his  words  brought 
such  soulful  conviction,  and  to  whom  his  im- 
pressive personality  so  strongly  appealed,  that 
they  unhesitatingly  believed  him  and  accepted 
his  sayings  as  divine  truth.  There  were  even 
those  who  asked  that  they  might  go  with  him 
as  his  disciples,  when  it  was  learned  that  he  was 
about  to  leave  the  city,  so  great  was  the  reverence 
he  inspired. 

fl"  But,  gratifying  as  this  manifestation  of  regard 

[100] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  MERCHANT 


must  have  been  to  him,  he  desired  for  the  pres-     <f^e  Story  Of 
ent  no  associates  other  than  the  four  or  five    a  "founv  Man 
friends  who  had  come  with  him  from  Galilee. 
With  them  as  his  only  companions  he  set  forth 
from  Jerusalem,  to  continue  in  other  parts  of 
the  country  the  prosecution  of  his  work  which 
had  opened  so  auspiciously  and  so  triumph- 
antly. 

^[  He  was  gladly  received  wherever  he  appeared. 
The  synagogues  of  the  various  towns  through 
which  he  passed  were  thrown  open  to  him,  and 
in  them  he  preached  to  the  people,  who  flocked 
from  all  directions  to  hear  him  and  to  drink  in 
the  words  of  hope  and  joy  that  he  offered  to  an 
oppressed  and  benighted  nation. 
^[  His  exhortations,  his  doctrines,  everywhere 
excited  astonishment,  not  only  because  of  their 
originality  and  significance,  but  more  so  because 
of  the  independent  authority  with  which  they 
were  delivered.  What  first  impressed  his  audi- 

[I03] 


The  Story  of  tors  was  the  remarkable  contrast  between  his 
a  Toung  Man  manner  of  preaching  and  that  of  the  scribes, 
the  religious  teachers  of  the  people.  Their  ser- 
mons were  devoid  of  life  or  inspiration.  They 
confined  their  discourses  chiefly  to  retailing  the 
opinions  of  commentators ;  to  the  repetition  of 
cerem  onial  rules  and  regulations ;  and  they  never 
ventured  a  statement  nor  offered  an  explanation 
unless  it  was  sanctioned  by  some  recognized 
master  of  theology. 

Jesus,  on  the  contrary,  ignored  all  masters 
and  commentators;  all  worldly  authority.  He 
needed  none  to  tell  him  of  God  and  of  life. 
These  were  the  exalted  themes  that  inspired 
his  sermons,  and  the  truth  within  him  was  alone 
his  authority.  So  earnest  was  his  conviction  of 
the  verity  of  his  words  that  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  tell  his  hearers  that  their  future  weal  or  woe 
depended  upon  their  acceptance  or  rejection  of 
the  message  he  bore.  It  was  the  majesty  of  such 

[104] 


authority  as  this  that  smote  his  listeners  with    The  Story  of 
awe  and  irresistibly  held  their  attention.  a  Young  Man 

^[  But  even  more  remarkable  was  his  boldness 
— his  moral  courage  —  as  displayed  in  his  de- 
nunciation of  the  abuses  and  false  notions  of  the 
day.  Station,  rank,  earthly  authority  or  the 
world's  opinion  had  no  weight  with  him ;  they 
had  no  terrors  for  a  nature  such  as  his.  He  pos- 
sessed that  commanding  self-reliance,  that  splen- 
did fearlessness,  which  comes  of  true  and  perfect 
manhood.  He  was  actuated  solely  by  his  duty, 
his  mission  —  never  stopping  to  question  what 
the  results  might  be  to  himself. 
^[  Nor  did  he  in  this  respect  confine  himself 
alone  to  words.  In  his  actions,  in  his  every-day 
life,  whenever  the  opportunity  occurred,  he 
openly  and  unhesitatingly  displayed  the  same 
inspiring  fearlessness. 


[105] 


N  one  occasion,  returning  to  Jeru- 
salem to  attend  one  of  the  many 
feasts  that  were  annually  celebrated 
there,  he  came  upon  a  helpless  in- 
valid — a  man  who  had  been  paralyzed  for  nearly 
forty  years.  In  company  with  many  others  af- 
flicted with  sickness  or  infirmities  this  man  was 
lying  near  one  of  the  pools  —  the  pool  of  Be- 
thesda — the  water  of  which  was  supposed  to 
have  miraculous  curative  powers  at  such  times 
as,  for  some  unknown  cause,  it  became  disturbed 
or  changed  color. 

^[  On  these  occasions  the  invalids  hastily  en- 
tered the  pool,  but  the  poor  paralytic  had  no 
one  to  help  him ;  and  each  time,  before  he  could 
reach  the  water,  others  crowded  in  his  way  and 
prevented  him. 

[107] 


CHAPTER 
SEVEN 


The  Story  of  The  pathos  of  his  plight  deeply  touched  the 

a  Young  Man  heart  of  Jesus,  and  with  generous  sympathy  he 
hastened  to  relieve  the  unfortunate  sufferer.  It 
mattered  not  to  him  that  the  day  was  the  Sab- 
bath, and  that  the  deed  he  was  about  to  per- 
form was  forbidden  on  that  day  as  constituting 
an  act  of  labor.  Here  was  a  fellow-creature  in 
pain  and  distress.  His  duty  lay  to  him,  and  not 
to  arbitrary  human  laws. 

i  Placing  his  hand  tenderly  upon  the  man  he 
bade  him  rise  and  walk.  This  gentle  command 
from  the  lips  of  Jesus  was  alone  sufficient.  It 
carried  with  it  the  potency  of  that  sublime  spir- 
itual force  that  dominated  his  being.  The  man 
to  whom  the  words  were  addressed  rose  slowly 
from  his  recumbent  position,  until  at  length, 
taking  up  the  pallet  upon  which  he  had  been 
lying,  he  stood  up,  freed  from  his  infirmity,  and 
gazed  in  bewildered  amazement  upon  his  bene- 
factor. 

[108] 


€1  The  news  of  the  occurrence  aroused  instant  q-fa  gtory  of 
commotion.  The  restored  paralytic,  who  had  a  Toung  Man 
long  been  a  familiar  figure  in  the  city,  was  speed- 
ily surrounded  by  a  gaping  crowd,  clamoring 
with  inquisitive  interest  to  know  by  what  means 
he  had  been  so  suddenly  cured,  and  for  what 
reason  he  was  violating  the  Sabbath  by  carry- 
ing his  bed  about  with  him — an  act  prohib- 
ited by  the  Sabbatical  laws. 
€j~  Over  and  over  again  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
count his  marvelous  experience,  at  the  same 
time  offering  as  an  excuse  for  his  breach  of  the 
Sabbath  the  fact  that  the  unknown  man  who  had 
healed  him  had  commanded  him  to  take  up  his 
bed  and  walk.  Jesus  had  in  the  meantime  dis- 
appeared, without  being  recognized,  leaving  the 
people  to  their  various  surmises  regarding  the 
mysterious  man  who,  by  a  mere  touch,  could  re- 
store health  and  vigor  to  a  palsy-stricken  body, 
and  who  had  not  only  dared  to  break  the  Sab- 

[109] 


The  Story  of      bath  himself,  but  had  also  deliberately  induced 
a  Young  Man    a  fellow-mortal  to  violate  the  law. 

^[  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  he  was 
identified,  and  the  report  of  his  conduct  was  at 
once  carried  to  the  authorities,  who  undertook 
to  censure  him  at  the  first  opportunity.  But  little 
were  they  prepared  for  the  scathing  rebuke 
which  he,  in  return,  administered  to  them  for 
their  blindness  and  perversity  in  condemning 
him  for  an  act  of  charity.  Could  they  not  see, 
he  demanded,  that  what  he  had  done  was  in- 
spired of  God  ?  Did  they  not  realize  that  in  tak- 
ing him  to  task  fordoing  the  work  of  the  Father 
they  were  holding  the  Almighty  accountable  to 
their  petty  judgment  of  right  and  wrong  ? 
^T  Of  the  many  unhappy  features  of  existing  re- 
ligious thought  and  social  conditions  there  was 
none  more  marked  than  the  extraordinary'strict- 
ness  regarding  the  outward  observance  of  the 
Sabbath.  From  the  simple  command  that  the 

[no] 


Lord  had  given  to  the  people  through  Moses,    The  Story  of 
the  scribes  had  elaborated  a  vast  array  of  in-    a  Young  Man 
junctions  and  prohibitions  covering  every  detail 
of  social,  individual  and  public  life,  even  to  the 
question  of  the  kinds  of  knots  that  might  law- 
fully be  tied  on  that  day  — rules  that  were  so 
manifestly  absurd  as  clearly  to  indicate  how  far 
remote  was  the  relationship  existing  between 
them  and  the  piety  that  they  were  supposed  to 
represent. 

f[  It  is  not  difficult,  therefore,  to  understand 
how  a  nature  like  that  of  Jesus'  rebelled  against 
such  perversions  of  the  Lord's  commandments. 
Though  he  incurred  the  deep  enmity  of  the 
scribes  and  the  Pharisees  by  his  defiance  of  their 
authority,  and  realized  that  he  would  be  sub- 
jected to  their  persecution  should  he  again  vio- 
late their  cherished  rules,  it  did  not  deter  him 
from  showing  to  the  world  that  mercy  and  love 
rise  superior  to  any  earthly  restrictions ;  and  it 


'The  Story  of      was  only  a  short  while  after  the  incident  at 
a  Toung  Man    Jerusalem  that  he  again  had  occasion  to  demon- 
strate it. 

f[  It  was  a  Sabbath  day,  and  he  was  holding  one 
of  his  usual  discourses  in  a  synagogue,  surrounded 
by  a  congregation  of  interested  and  critical  lis- 
teners. Among  them  was  a  man  with  a  withered 
hand,  and  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  who  were 
present  looked  on  with  unkindly  interest,  secretly 
hoping  that  Jesus  would  give  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  accuse  him  of  Sabbath-breaking  by  at- 
tempting to  heal  the  man,  who,  according  to 
the  law,  could  not  receive  any  relief  until  the 
holy  day  was  over,  as  he  was  in  no  immediate 
danger  of  death. 

^TTThey  inquired  of  Jesus  whether  it  was  lawful 
to  heal  on  the  Sabbath;  thinking  thereby  to 
draw  him  into  a  discussion  in  which  he  might 
commit  himself  by  some  tangible  demonstration 
of  his  unorthodox  views. 

[112] 


Divining  their  motive  with  that  rare  insight     cffc  Story  of 
into  human  nature  which  was  ever  one  of  the    a  Younv  Man 
distinguishing  qualities  of  his  superior  mind,  he 
did  not  at  once  reply  to  them ;  but,  instead,  he 
called  upon  the  cripple  to  stand  up. 
^[  Instantly  there  was  a  hush  throughout  the 
room. 

^[  Then  turning  to  his  questioners  he  asked;  "  Is 
it  lawful  to  do  good  on  the  Sabbath?" 
^[  The  suddenness  of  the  question  and  the  un- 
expected form  in  which  the  case  was  presented 
to  them  took  them  aback.  They  who  had 
thought  to  entrap  this  Galilean  reformer  by 
their  usual  mode  of  subtle  questioning  were 
themselves  confounded.  They  had  met  one  who 
was  more  than  their  equal.  They  knew  not  for 
the  moment  how  to  reply,  and  their  discom- 
fiture was  increased  when,  continuing  with  his 
remarks,  couched  in  the  fluent  and  forceful  lan- 
guage of  righteous  indignation,  Jesus  arraigned 

["3] 


Story  of       them  for  their  uncharitable  motives,  and  in  final 
a  Young  Man     reply  to  their  question  commanded  the  cripple 
to  hold  out  his  hand;  and  forthwith,  exerting 
upon  it  his  divine  influence,  he  restored  it  to 
life. 

^[  In  addition  to  his  inspiring  words  and  con- 
duct, which  drew  many  to  him  as  their  ac- 
knowledged leader,  this  gift  of  healing — this 
miraculous  power  over  physical  infirmity - 
added  a  potent  and  wonderful  charm  to  his 
greatness. 

^[  There  had  been  others  gifted  with  like  ability, 
but  in  none  had  it  been  so  marked,  so  compre- 
hensive, so  significant  of  divine  power  as  in  the 
case  of  this  marvelous  man.  Even  the  lepers 
were  cleansed  at  the  touch  of  his  hand. 
^[  The  report  of  his  teachings  and  his  cures 
spread  through  Judea  and  as  far  north  as  Gali- 
lee, his  native  province,  toward  which  his  jour- 
neyings  gradually  led  him,  and  where  he  finally 

["4] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  ROMAN 
CENTURION 


arrived  after  an  absence  of  several  months.  He     y/fe  Story  of 
was  heartily  welcomed  by  the  inhabitants,  who     a  Young  Man 
were  proud  to  claim  him  as  a  fellow-Galilean — 
a  man  who  had  made  his  mark  in  Jerusalem  and 
whose  name  was  being  heralded  throughout  the 
land. 

^[  He  who  a  few  months  before  had  been  an 
unknown  carpenter  now  commanded  the  atten- 
tion of  the  public,  and  rose  before  the  world  as 
a  man  of  mighty  possibilities.  And  scarcely  had 
he  returned  to  Galilee  when  there  occurred  an 
incident  that  more  than  justified  the  popular 
opinion  of  him  and  confirmed  beyond  all  doubt 
the  many  reports  of  his  miraculous  powers. 
^[  One  of  the  officials  of  the  court  of  Herod 
Antipas,  the  ruler  of  Galilee,  learning  that  Jesus 
was  in  the  town  of  Cana,  came  to  him  in  per- 
son to  ask  his  aid  on  behalf  of  his  dying  son.  He 
was  a  Roman  nobleman,  a  member  of  a  class 
professedly  contemptuous  of  the  Jews;  yet  he 


The  Story  of  recognized  in  this  Galilean  teacher  a  personality 
a  Young  Man  that  transcended  the  bounds  of  caste;  a  person- 
ality superior  to  his  own  nobility  of  birth  and 
office,  and  in  humble  supplication  he  craved 
that  Jesus  would  return  with  him  to  Capernaum, 
that  the  life  of  his  boy  might  be  spared. 
f[  He  had  the  power  to  have  summoned  Jesus 
to  his  home ;  — to  have  commanded  his  attend- 
ance upon  him;  but  he  had  come  to  him  in- 
stead. He  had  left  his  palace  and  had  traveled 
a  distance  of  more  than  twenty  miles,  that  he 
might  speak  with  the  man  whose  works  had 
aroused  his  reverent  admiration,  and  that  he 
might  ask  of  him  the  assistance  which  he  felt 
that  he,  this  divinely  gifted  physician,  could 
alone  give  him. 

fl"  Deeply  touched  by  a  faith  so  sincere,  on  the 
part  of  one  from  whom  it  was  so  little  to  be 
expected,  Jesus  willingly  responded  to  the  noble- 
man's prayer.  But  not  in  the  manner  that  the 

[1.8] 


supplicant  and  those  about  him  had  expected.    'The  Story  of 

He  bade  the  nobleman  return  home  alone.  He     a  Young  Man 

would  not  go  with  him;  it  was  unnecessary. 

His  prayer  was  already  answered;  for  even  as 

he  spoke  the  fever  left  the  child,  as  the  father 

learned  upon  his  return  home  the  following 

day. 


["9] 


LUSHED  with   the  success  that    CHAPTER 
had  crowned  the  first  months  of    EIGHT 
his    mission,    Jesus    returned    at 
length    to    his    home,   the   little 


town  of  Nazareth.  He  entered  it  quietly  and 
hastened  at  once  to  his  mother.  She  should  be 
the  first  to  welcome  him.  His  first  salutation 
should  be  to  her.  The  bond  between  mother 
and  son  was  one  of  peculiar  tenderness  and  en- 
dearment—  a  sympathy  of  love  that  only  the 
hearts  of  these  two  could  understand.  This 
had  been  the  first  long  absence  of  Jesus  from 
his  mother,  and  as  he  folded  her  in  his  arms  he 
knew  by  her  tears  and  by  the  fervency  of  her 
silent  embrace  how  deep  was  the  joy  that  welled 
within  her  loving  heart. 

^|  He  had  returned  home  on  the  eve  of  a  Sab- 

[121] 


'The  Story  of  bath-day;  and  on  the  following  morning,  as  had 
a  Young  Man  been  his  habit  since  boyhood,  he  accompanied 
his  mother  to  the  synagogue.  Like  those  of 
nearly  all  the  towns  in  Palestine,  the  synagogue 
of  Nazareth  was  a  low,  rectangular  building  of 
stone,  situated  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  over- 
looking the  town.  Thither  the  townspeople 
wended  their  way ;  the  men  with  their  phalac- 
teries,  or  amulets,  tied  on  their  forehead  and 
wrist,  and  the  women  veiled  in  white  and  walk- 
ing sedately  with  downcast  eyes  to  the  tinkling 
accompaniment  of  their  metal  anklets. 

The  air  of  the  synagogue  was  sweet  with 
the  refreshing  odor  of  mint,  which  was  strewn 
here  and  there  upon  the  floor.  Removing  their 
sandals  at  the  doorway  Jesus  and  his  mother 
entered  and  took  their  places  among  the  other 
worshippers.  They  did  not,  however,  remain  to- 
gether, for  the  men  and  women  occupied  sepa- 
rate portions  of  the  synagogue;  the  women 

[122] 


being  assigned  to  a  partitioned  space  near  the     cffo  gtorv  of 
entrance,    where    custom    required    that   they     a  Younv  Man 
should   remain    standing   during   the   service, 
while  the  men  occupied  the  benches  in  the 
main  part  of  the  room   or  seated  themselves 
upon  the  floor. 

f[  The  first  part  of  a  Sabbath  morning's  service, 
which  consisted  of  a  liturgy  and  the  recitation 
of  passages  from  the  Pentateuch,  was  followed 
always  by  a  reading  from  the  Prophets  and  a 
short  commentary  on  the  Scripture.  This  fea- 
ture of  the  synagogue  worship  was  commonly 
assigned  to  some  member  of  the  congregation, 
and  on  this  morning  Jesus  stepped  forward  and 
volunteered  his  services.  He  was  accordingly 
invited  to  come  to  the  pulpit  and  read  the  lesson 
for  the  day  from  the  book  of  Isaiah. 
C  The  minister  handed  him  the  rolled  manu- 
script, and  as  Jesus  opened  it  in  search  for  the 
text  the  congregation  looked  on  with  indiffer- 


The  Story  of      ent  attention.  But  as  he  began  to  read  there  was 

a  Toung  Man    a  noticeable  awakening  of  interest.  In  place  of 

the  usual  monotonous  recitation  the  words  of  the 

Prophet  rang  through  the  synagogue  in  a  voice 

eloquent  with  feeling: 

[  "The  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me,  because 
He  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
the  poor.  He  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken- 
hearted ;  to  proclaim  deliverance  to  the  captive; 
to  restore  sight  to  the  blind,  and  to  set  at  liberty 
them  that  are  bound." 

[  As  he  handed  the  roll  back  to  the  minister 
all  eyes  were  upon  him.  It  was  customary  for 
the  reader  himself  to  expound  the  lesson,  and  the 
congregation  now  waited  with  curious  interest 
to  hear  what  comments  Jesus  would  make  upon 
the  passage  he  had  just  read. 

In  an  outburst  of  impassioned  eloquence  he 
instantly  astonished  his  hearers  by  applying  to 
himself  the  words  of  the  Prophet  —  "Behold, 

[,24] 


ye  men  and  women  of  Nazareth,  to-day  the     The  Story  of 
Scripture  has  been  fulfilled  in  your  ears!"  a  Young  Man 

T"  Carried  forward  by  the  spirit  of  this  inspired 
declaration  he  called  upon  his  listeners  to  bear 
witness  to  its  truth.  His  words  rose  strong  and 
clear;  gaining  in  intensity  as  he  went  on.  A 
glorious  enthusiasm  animated  his  voice.  He  was 
talking  to  his  friends,  his  neighbors,  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  They  would  understand  him.  They 
would  appreciate  to  the  full  the  significance  of 
the  truth  he  was  proclaiming.  Yea,  above  all 
others,  they  would  acknowledge  him,  and  re- 
joice with  him! 

But  when  he  finished  there  came  a  murmur 
from  the  audience  —  a  murmur  of  disapproval. 
Glances  and  whispers  were  exchanged  among  the 
men,  for  the  synagogue  rules  permitted  a  congre- 
gation to  give  open  expression  to  its  opinions. 
T  "Is  not  this  man  a  carpenter?"  they  asked 
one  of  another.  "Where  has  he  obtained  these 


The  Story  of  strange  ideas?  He  belongs  to  no  school.  By  what 
a  Young  Man  authority  does  he,  a  mere  carpenter,  thus  preach 
to  us?  Aye,  whence  comes  his  presumptuous 
claim  to  the  Messiahship !  It  is  absurd;  it  is  blas- 
phemous! He  has  been  trifling  with  us !" 
^[  Jesus  was  overwhelmed.  His  sensitive  nature 
recoiled  with  pain  and  mortification  before  these 
unkind  comments  as  they  became  gradually 
more  loudly  and  more  arrogantly  spoken.  He 
realized  at  once  the  depth  of  their  meaning.  His 
old-time  friends  and  neighbors  were  insinuating 
that  his  words  had  been  inspired  by  some  un- 
holy power.  It  was  more  than  he  could  endure. 
His  soul  cried  out  against  this  cruel  imputation, 
and,  addressing  his  critics  in  a  voice  quivering 
with  emotion,  he  laid  bare  with  straightforward, 
stinging  accusation  their  uncharitable  and  sinis- 
ter motives. 

f  Wrought  up  by  his  words  to  a  state  of  anger 
and  excitement  the  congregation  interrupted 


Overcome  with  grief  and  bitter  disappointment,  Jesus  left  Nazareth  " 


Copyright,  1900.  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


him  with  shouts  and  threatening  gestures.  He     The  Story  of 
attempted  to  proceed;  but  his  voice  was  drowned     a  Young  Man 
in  the  uproar;  and  a  moment  later  he  was  seized 
and  hurried  out  of  the  synagogue. 
^[  "  Kill  him ! "  came  from  many  excited  voices. 
"  Yea,  put  him  to  death !  He  is  an  impostor,  a  blas- 
phemer! Let  us  cast  him  over  the  precipice!" 
and  in  the  centre  of  a  turbulent  crowd  of  men 
he  was  borne  along  toward  the  edge  of  a  deep 
ravine. 

[  Was  it  possible  that  they  really  meant  to  kill 
him  ?  Was  this  to  be  his  reward  ?  Was  this  his 
welcome  to  the  town  that  had  been  his  home 
since  childhood? 

["  Realizing  their  murderous  intent,  he  suddenly 
stopped.  Without  a  word,  he  cast  upon  the  men 
about  him  a  look  of  such  deep  reproach,  of  such 
commanding  protest,  that  they  shrank  from  him 
in  shame  and  fear,  and  permitted  him  to  pass 
through  and  go  his  way. 

[129] 


The  Story  of  c"  Overcome  with  grief  and  bitter  disappoint- 
a  Young  Man  rnent,  Jesus  left  the  town.  He  had  entered  it  so 
full  of  joyous  anticipations,  and  now  he  was 
leaving  it  —  leaving  it  forever  —  rejected,  hu- 
miliated, scorned  by  his  own  people !  Of  what 
avail  had  been  his  mission  ?  What  meant  his 
successes,  his  triumphs,  in  the  face  of  such  a 
crushing  blow ! 


[J3°] 


HE  clear  waters  of  the  lake  of    CHAPTER 
Galilee,  stirred  into  gentle  ripples    NINE 
by  the  cool  and  perfumed  breezes 
that  swept  down  from  the  sur- 


rounding garden-covered  hills,  shimmered  tran- 
quilly beneath  the  radiance  of  a  tropic  sky.  It 
was  a  Sabbath  morning  in  the  early  summer. 
The  streets  of  Capernaum  were  hushed  and  life- 
less. 

^[  The  place  was  one  of  much  importance  among 
the  many  towns  that  bordered  the  lake,  and  on 
,  other  days  of  the  week  was  the  scene  of  a  thriv- 
ing centre  of  business,  with  its  fisheries  and  its 
markets.  To-day,  however,  all  work  was  laid 
aside,  and  the  solemn  spirit  of  the  day  reigned 
supreme.  Fishing-boats  rocked  listlessly  at  their 
moorings,  the  shops  and  market-places  were  de- 


The  Story  of      serted,  and  a  sense  of  rest  and  quietude  brooded 

a  Toung  Man     over  the  little  town. 

f  But  as  the  hour  for  the  morning  service  ap- 
proached an  unusual  stir  was  noticeable  among 
the  inhabitants.  The  streets  became  filled  with 
men  and  women  hastening  with  eager  steps  to- 
ward the  synagogue  and  conversing  in  earnest 
tones.  An  event  of  absorbing  interest  was  upper- 
most in  the  minds  of  all. 

The  famous  young  rabbi  was  in  town  !  Yea, 
the  new  teacher,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  of  whom 
all  the  country  was  talking!  Beyond  doubt  he 
would  attend  the  synagogue  that  morning.  It 
would  give  them  an  opportunity  to  see  him. 
Perchance,  too,  they  might  hear  him  talk.  It 
would  indeed  be  strange  were  he  not  asked  to 
address  the  congregation. 

Jesus  had  reached  the  town  early  in  the 
morning,  attended  by  four  of  his  devoted  friends, 
who  had  joined  him  the  previous  day.  They 

l>32] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  FISHER- 
MAN 


had  been  with  him  before  as  his  companions     The  Story  of 
and  disciples,  but  upon  his  visit  to  Nazareth  had    a  Toung  Man 
returned  to  their  homes.  They  were  lowly  fish- 
ermen, these  friends  of  Jesus  —  Andrew  and  his 
brother  Simon  Peter,  and  two  other  brothers, 
James  and  John; — men  of  but  little  learning, 
yet  possessed  of  true  hearts  and  generous,  sym- 
pathetic impulses. 

While  they  reverently  acknowledged  the 
superiority  of  their  friend  and  master,  there  had 
grown  up  between  them  an  unaffected  intimacy 
of  brotherly  love,  so  that  when,  after  an  absence 
of  some  little  time,  he  unexpectedly  came  upon 
them  the  preceding  day  while  engaged  with 
their  nets  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake,  and  asked 
them  to  once  more  accompany  him  and  assist 
him  in  his  work,  they  gladly  accepted  the  in- 
vitation and  went  with  him  at  once. 

His  cruel  rejection  by  the  people  of  his  native 
town  had  cast  a  gloomy  shadow  upon  the  very 

['35] 


The  Story  of  threshold  of  his  life's  undertaking.  But  not  for 
a  Toung  Man  one  instant  had  it  affected  his  exalted  purpose, 
nor  deterred  him  from  going  steadfastly  forward 
with  his  work.  He  realized  that  it  was  but  a 
foretaste  of  the  trials  and  sorrows  that  must  come 
to  him  in  fulfilling  the  mission  that  the  Father 
had  ordained  for  him. 

^]~  Yet  the  welcome  accorded  him  by  the  citizens 
of  other  towns  did  much  to  compensate  for  the 
grief  of  his  experience  at  Nazareth.  He  was  re- 
ceived with  marked  cordiality  wherever  he  ap- 
peared, and  now,  as  on  this  Sabbath  morning, 
he  entered  the  synagogue  of  Capernaum,  in 
company  with  his  four  companions,  he  was  con- 
scious of  a  murmur  of  welcome  from  the  un- 
usually large  congregation  that  had  assembled 
in  anticipation  of  seeing  him. 
fj"  When  the  formal  exercises  of  the  meeting 
were  concluded  he  was  invited  to  preach  —  a 
courtesy  that  was  commonly  extended  to  visit- 

' 


ing  rabbis.  Many  marvelous  reports  had  reached     yfe  Story  of 
the  people  of  Capernaum  regarding  his  elo-    a  Young  Man 
quence  and  the  novelty  of  his  teachings,  and  as 
he  came  forward  and  took  his  seat  upon  the 
little  platform  near  the  centre  of  the  room  a 
buzz  of  eager  curiosity  ran  through  the  assem- 
bly. 

^[  But  ere  he  had  spoken  four  or  five  sentences 
curiosity  gave  way  to  wonder  and  amazement. 
No  previously  formed  conception  of  him  had 
prepared  his  listeners  for  the  remarkable  force 
of  his  words  and  the  overmastering  influence 
of  his  personality.  Never  before  in  all  their  ex- 
periences had  any  one  spoken  to  them  as  did 
this  man  Jesus.  Never  before  had  such  elo- 
quence, such  soul-stirring  words,  been  heard 
within  the  synagogue  of  Capernaum.  No  scribe, 
no  rabbi  had  ever  taught  with  such  command- 
ing authority,  nor  given  utterance  to  such  vivid 
and  such  inspiring  thoughts. 

[137] 


The  Story  of  He  drew  his   audience   closer,  closer.    His 

a  Toung  Man  power  was  fascinating,  irresistible.  Every  heart 
was  beating  in  uncontrollable  response  to  the 
fervid  music  of  his  eloquence.  The  people  sat 
as  if  entranced.  They  scarcely  breathed.  The 
man  before  them  seemed  to  absorb  their  very 
being.  They  gazed  upon  him  spellbound,  thrilled 
by  his  every  word,  his  every  glance. 
\  Suddenly  a  wild  and  piercing  shriek  rent  the 
air.  A  man,  disheveled  and  with  countenance 
horribly  distorted,  sprang  up  amid  the  congre- 
gation. With  fierce  gesticulations  and  frothing 
at  the  mouth  he  struggled  frantically  toward 
Jesus,  at  the  same  time  crying  out  in  the  fren- 
zied and  incoherent  speech  of  a  maniac. 
|[  In  an  instant  the  place  was  in  an  uproar.  A 
wild  terror  seized  upon  the  people.  They  be- 
came panic  stricken.  Oblivious  to  the  danger 
that  threatened  the  young  rabbi  they  rushed 
toward  the  doorway. 


Then  above  the  noise  and  confusion  rose  the     j^  Story  of 
clear,  calm   voice  of  Jesus.    He   commanded     a  Young  Man 
silence.  The  retreating  congregation  stopped, 
abashed  and  overcome.  Then  fearlessly  address- 
ing himself  tothemadman,hebadehim  hold  his 
peace,  and  charged  the  evil  spirit  that  possessed 
him  to  come  forth ;  and  before  the  astonished 
gaze  of  the  people  the  man,  who  a  moment  be- 
fore had  been  a  raving  maniac,  sank  helplessly  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus,  restored  to  his  right  mind. 

Passing  forth  from  the  synagogue,  Jesus  re- 
tired with  his  companions  to  the  homeof  Andrew 
and  Peter.  He  was  weary  and  in  need  of  rest. 
He  had  walked  many  miles  during  the  week, 
everywhere  and  at  all  times  addressing  those  that 
flocked  about  him,  and  constantly  called  upon  to 
lend  his  divine  aid  to  the  unfortunate.  But  instead 
of  finding  the  comfort  he  now  sought  he  came 
upon  a  scene  of  sorrow  and  distress  in  which  he 
was  himself  called  upon  to  be  the  comforter. 

LX39] 


The  Story  of  If  The  mother  of  Peter's  wife  was  suffering 
a  Toung  Man  with  a  violent  attack  of  fever.  The  inmates  of 
the  house  knew  not  where  to  turn  for  help  ;  but 
the  moment  they  perceived  Jesus  they  appealed 
to  him.  Ever  animated  by  a  touching  sympathy 
for  those  in  affliction,  he  forthwith  approached 
the  bedside  of  the  suffering  woman,  and  taking 
her  by  the  hand,  raised  her  tenderly  from  the 
pillow,  at  the  same  time  speaking  to  her  in  a 
voice  of  gentle  cheer  and  encouragement ;  and 
within  a  few  moments,  under  the  soothing  in- 
fluence of  his  spiritual  power,  the  fever  subsided 
and  the  woman  was  able  to  leave  her  bed. 
fT  The  news  of  this,  coupled  with  the  miracu- 
lous occurrence  at  the  morning  service,  spread 
with  surprising  rapidity,  and  formed  the  sole 
topic  of  conversation  throughout  the  town. 
fj"  With  the  setting  of  the  sun,  which  marked  the 
end  of  the  Sabbath  and  permitted  the  return  to 
ordinary  duties  and  privileges,  a  large  number 

[HO] 


of  persons  came  hurrying  to  the  house  at  which     The  Story  of 

Jesus  was  stopping.  From  every  street  and  every     a  Young  Man 

lane,  and  from  nearby  towns  and  villages  they 

came,  the  great  majority  of  them  afflicted  with 

infirmities  or  disease.  They  had  learned  of  what 

he  had  done  and  now  besought  his  aid  in  their 

behalf. 

With  loving  pity  he  came  forth  and  laid  his 
hands  with  their  revivifying  touch  upon  each 
and  every  one  in  turn ;  restoring  sight  and  speech, 
awakening  the  troubled  mind  to  reason,  and 
bringing  back  the  glow  of  health  to  wan  and 
wasted  bodies.  It  mattered  not  to  him  that  he 
was  fatigued  and  was  seeking  a  few  hours'  rest 
before  the  morrow's  toil.  Before  him  were 
suffering  fellow-creatures.  His  first  duty  was  to 
them,  and  with  a  smile  or  a  cheering  word  he 
greeted  them  all. 

It  was  nightfall  ere  the  last  visitor  went  his 
way,  rejoicing  and  glorifying  God.  But  scarcely 

[HI] 


The  Story  of  had  the  first  signs  of  dawn  appeared  when  again 
a  Young  Man  the  space  in  front  of  the  little  house  was  filled 
with  the  maimed,  the  sick  and  the  blind,  clam- 
oring selfishly  for  Rabbi  Jesus  to  heal  them. 
;  But  Jesus  was  not  in  the  house.  He  had  dis- 
appeared. Hastening  anxiously  to  a  neighboring 
hill,  where  they  thought  he  might  have  retired 
in  accordance  with  a  habit  they  had  learned  to 
know,  his  friends  found  him  in  a  secluded  spot 
engaged  in  prayer.  He  had  risen  while  it  was 
yet  night,  and  had  come  to  this  lonely  and  des- 
ert place  that  he  might  commune  alone  with 
God,  and  gain  from  Him,  the  Father,  fresh 
strength  and  courage. 

^  But  even  here  he  was  not  free  from  disturb- 
ance. No  sooner  had  his  companions  found  him 
and  told  him  of  the  sick  who  awaited  him,  than 
many  others  sought  him  out  and  begged  him 
to  return  to  town  and  heal  their  friends  and 
relatives. 


f[  But  much  as  his  heart  yearned  for  the  help-     fffo  §tory  Of 

less  creatures  who  were  calling  for  him,  and  not-     a  Younv  Man 

withstanding  the  opportunity  thus  offered  to 

increase  his  personal  popularity,  he  would  not 

permit  himself  to  be  swerved  from  the  true  and 

higher  purpose  of  his  mission. 

f[  "  No,"  he  replied  in  his  gentle  yet  firm  voice, 

to  those  who  besought  him,  "  I  have  come,  not 

merely  to  heal  bodily  infirmities,  but  to  preach 

the  good  tidings  of  the  Kingdom  of  God,  and 

to  call  men  to  repentance.  Do  not,  therefore,  ask 

me  to  remain  here,  for  I  must  go  to  the  other 

towns  as  well,  that  all  may  hear  the  truth  and 

learn  of  the  salvation  that  awaits  them.  Come," 

he   continued,   addressing   his   disciples,  "  our 

work  lies  before  us." 


P  to  this  time  the  labors  of  Jesus    CHAPTER 
had  been  in  the  nature  of  prelim-     TEN 
inary  work,  more  or  less  intermit- 
tent, and  governed  by  no  set  plans. 


But  henceforth  his  course  of  action  was  one  of 
definite  and  systematic  effort  combined  with 
unremitting  toil. 

^T  With  Capernaum  as  a  centre  he  began  now 
a  series  of  short  journey  ings  throughout  the 
province  of  Galilee.  Attended  by  his  disciples, 
he  traveled  on  foot  from  one  place  to  another, 
teaching  in  the  synagogue  of  each  town,  or  in 
the  open  air  when  the  accommodations  were  not 
sufficient  for  the  numbers  that  came  to  hear 
him. 

^[  Events  as  stirring  and  as  trying  as  those  that 
had  marked  his  present  visit  to  Capernaum  be- 

[-45] 


The  Story  of  came  now  his  daily  experience.  At  every  town, 
a  Young  Man  at  every  stopping-place,  the  inhabitants  poured 
forth  to  greet  him,  eager  to  harken  to  his  words 
or  to  invoke  his  aid.  The  sick  were  placed  by 
the  roadside,  in  the  streets,  and  in  the  door- 
ways, that  he  might  touch  them  as  he  passed. 
The  blind  and  the  dumb,  the  insane  and  the  epi- 
leptic, the  diseased  and  the  plague-stricken,  the 
maimed  and  the  deformed  —  all  implored  and 
all  received  his  mercy. 

^f  Misery  and  distress  surrounded  him  on  every 
hand.  They  intruded  themselves  even  into  his 
lodgings.  On  one  occasion  a  man  suffering  with 
palsy  was  carried  up  the  outer  stairway  and 
lowered  through  the  roof  of  the  house  at  which 
Jesus  was  stopping  ;  the  crowd  that  surrounded 
the  dwelling  being  so  great  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  gain  an  entrance  for  the  sufferer  through 
the  doorway. 
^[Wherever  he  turned  men  cried  to  him  for 


help,  thoughtful  only  of  their  own  burdens,      cffc  gf0ry  Of 
their  own  afflictions;  never  realizing  that  he  who      a  Young  Man 
with  infinite  compassion  laid  his  hands  upon 
them  and  bade  them  take  up  their  beds  and 
walk,  was  ofttimes  himself  faint  and  weary  with 
incessant  labor,  hungering  for  food,  and  know- 
ing not  where  to  rest  his  tired  body. 

]]  So  numerous  and  so  startling  were  the  cures 
he  effected  that  reports  concerning  them  spread 
rapidly  in  all  directions.  Not  only  did  they  stir 
the  entire  population  of  Galilee,  but  the  fame 
of  the  young  teacher  extended  throughout  all 
Palestine  and  into  the  bordering  territories,  and 
attracted  to  him  large  numbers  of  persons  from 
every  quarter. 

1  His  name  was  on  all  lips ;  his  sayings  were 
quoted  far  and  wide.  His  journeys  became  tri- 
umphal marches,  for  there  were  soon  gathered 
about  him  a  large  number  of  deeply  interested 
men  and  women,  who  regularly  accompanied 

[147] 


The  Story  of      mm  on  h*8  daily  walks,  while   the  populace 
a  Young  Man     everywhere  hailed  him  with  enthusiastic  dem- 
onstrations of  welcome. 

f["  The  wonder  inspired  by  his  abilities  as  a 
healer  grew  with  each  succeeding  day,  and  rose 
at  length  to  reverent  awe  when  it  became  mani- 
fest that  his  powers  not  only  held  dominion 
over  physical  infirmities,  but  transcended  the 
realm  of  even  death  itself. 

^|  It  happened,  one  day,  as  he  was  approaching 
the  village  of  Nain  attended  by  the  usual  throng, 
that  he  met  a  funeral  procession  passing  slowly 
out  through  the  gate.  A  poor  widow  was  about 
to  bury  her  only  son,  and  the  sorrowing  vil- 
lagers had  come  with  her,  in  token  of  their 
sympathy  for  the  broken-hearted  woman. 
^T  The  scene  was  one  of  inexpressible  sadness. 
Stepping  apart  from  his  followers,  Jesus  ap- 
proached the  weeping  mother  and  addressed 
her  in  tones  of  tenderest  sympathy.  At  this  un- 


expected  interruption  the  procession  stopped,  ^The  Story  of 
and,  in  the  hush  that  followed,  the  startled  on-  a  Toung  Man 
lookers  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  commanding 
the  widow's  son  to  arise,  and  the  next  moment 
they  beheld  the  young  man  sitting  up  and  heard 
him  speak  as  Jesus  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
assisted  him  to  rise  from  the  open- frame  bier  on 
which  he  had  been  lying. 
[  A  gasp  of  astonishment  rose  from  the  be- 
holders. Affrighted  and  bewildered  they  turned 
one  to  another  for  explanation.  What  manner 
of  man  was  this  who  could  thus  triumph  over 
the  grave?  Had  such  a  miracle  been  known 
since  the  days  of  Elisha?  Truly,  a  great  prophet 
had  come  among  them,  and  a  thousand  tongues 
hastened  to  proclaim  the  marvel  that  had  just 
been  witnessed. 

The  rapidly  widening  field  of  work  resulting 
from  the  popularity  of  his  mission  soon  con- 

[H9] 


The  Story  of  vinced  Jesus  of  the  necessity  of  gathering  about 
a  Toung  Man  him  a  circle  of  immediate  attendants,  who  could 
be  constantly  in  his  company  and  receive  from 
him  such  instructions  as  would  enable  them  in 
due  time  to  divide  with  him  his  ever-increasing 
labors,  by  acting  as  his  apostles  or  representatives. 
Accordingly,  from  the  disciples  who  were  fol- 
lowing him  he  chose  a  company  of  twelve ;  most 
of  them  plain,  unpretentious  men,  destitute  of 
learning,  and  belonging  to  the  poor  and  lowly 
classes. 

[f  Among  their  number  was  one,  Matthew  by 
name,  who  was  a  publican,  a  collector  of  taxes. 
His  occupation  made  him  a  social  outcast;  for 
so  great  was  the  Jewish  hatred  of  Roman  tax- 
ation, that  any  Israelite  who  became  a  publican 
was  excommunicated,  and,  in  the  estimation  of 
the  Pharisees,  was  no  better  than  a  robber  or  a 
murderer;  unfit  to  hold  the  slightest  intercourse 
with  any  self-respecting  Jew. 

t'5°] 


Copyright,  1901,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


PETER 


It  was,  therefore,  a  bold  step  for  Jesus  to  7*^  Story  of 
deliberately  choose  a  man  of  this  class  for  one  a  Toung  Man 
of  his  disciples.  He  fully  realized  that  by  so  doing 
he  forfeited  any  possible  chance  of  securing  the 
goodwill  or  recognition  of  the  influential  classes. 
But  with  his  supreme  indifference  to  the  narrow 
prejudices  of  the  world  he  selected  Matthew  be- 
cause of  his  qualities  as  a  man,  as  a  fellow-being, 
regardless  of  his  station  or  his  life  conditions. 
[  In  calm  defiance  of  the  strict  ideas  of  the 
Pharisees,  who,  for  fear  of  being  defiled,  relig- 
iously shrank  from  any  contact  with  the  com- 
mon people,  he  mingled  freely  and  at  all  times 
with  the  lower  classes  and  those  whom  public 
opinion  had  branded  as  sinners  :  the  downtrod- 
den, the  outcast,  the  forsaken ;  the  poor  unfor- 
tunates whom  the  religious  leaders  of  the  day, 
with  their  self-righteous  notions  of  virtue  and 
propriety,  regarded  as  hopelessly  lost  and  as 
unworthy  of  assistance. 

[•S3] 


The  Story  of  i"  It  was  to  persons  such  as  these,  both  men  and 
a  Young  Man  women,  that  Jesus  devoted  his  special  attention. 
He  went  among  them  as  a  counselor,  as  a  friend, 
as  a  brother ;  cheering  them  with  words  of  com- 
fort and  of  hope,  and  recognizing  them  as  equal 
before  God  with  all  mankind.  It  was  they  who 
most  needed  his  help,  and  it  mattered  not  to 
him  that  by  his  intercourse  with  them  he  aroused 
the  indignation  of  the  other  rabbis  and  the 
scribes. 

[j  From  the  very  first  the  Pharisees  and  religious 
teachers  had  looked  upon  him  with  suspicion. 
As  his  popularity  increased  their  ill-feeling 
ripened  into  jealous  enmity,  and  they  availed 
themselves  of  every  possible  opportunity  to  ha- 
rass him  by  publicly  criticising  his  conduct,  in 
the  hope  of  humiliating  him  and  lessening  his 
influence  with  the  people. 

To  this  end,  also,  they  sought  to  belittle  his 
miraculous  powers,  and  to  poison  the  public 

[-54] 


mind  by  asserting  that  he  was  in  league  with  cffo  Story  of 
Satan,  especially  in  his  remarkable  cures  of  de-  a  Young  Man 
moniacs,  or  persons  suffering  from  the  influence 
of  evil  spirits.  Not  content  with  this  malicious 
accusation,  they  endeavored  to  have  it  believed 
that  he  was  himself  possessed  of  a  demon — that 
his  mind  was  affected ;  an  insinuation  that  found 
support,  not  only  in  the  strangeness  of  his  teach- 
ings and  the  startling  nature  of  his  claims,  but 
more  particularly  in  the  extraordinary  zeal  that 
characterized  his  labors. 

*\  It  was  undoubtedly  true  that  in  this  latter  re- 
spect he  differed  very  greatly  from  other  teachers, 
with  their  monotonous  routine  of  spiritless  pre- 
cepts and  trifling  formalism.  His  whole  life  force 
was  concentrated  upon  the  accomplishment  of 
a  single  purpose — the  redemption,  the  uplifting, 
of  mankind. 

f[  At  times  the  demands  upon  him  were  so  great 
that  he  could  not  find  time  even  to  eat;  and  on 


'The  Story  of  one  occasion  he  was  so  engrossed  in  his  benevo- 
a  Young  Man  lent  work,  and  gave  himself  up  to  it  with  such 
tireless  enthusiasm,  utterly  forgetful  of  himself 
and  his  needs,  that  the  cruel  slander  instigated 
by  the  Pharisees  found  justification  in  the  minds 
of  some  of  his  own  friends,  who,  with  misguided 
solicitude,  sought  to  interfere,  convinced  that 
he  was  indeed  beside  himself. 

With  trials  such  as  these  to  contend  with  in 
the  midst  of  his  exhausting  labors,  and  coupled 
many  times  with  the  sad  realization  that  the 
multitudes  who  flocked  about  him  were  more 
often  attracted  by  selfish  desire  for  assistance 
than  by  the  glorious  truths  he  announced  to 
them,  it  was  but  small  wonder  that  he  some- 
times questioned  the  success  of  his  mission. 

But  without  a  murmur  of  complaint,  he  con- 
tinued steadfastly  with  his  teachings.  It  mattered 
not  where  his  audience  happened  to  be ;  he  ad- 
dressed himself  to  his  fellow-men  everywhere 


—  on  the  mountain  side,  on  the  shore  of  the     cj-fo  gforv  Of 
lake,  on  the  high  ways,  in  the  villages,  in  the  syna-     a  Young  Man 
gogues,  in  the  houses.  Wherever  men  and  women 
gathered  about  him,  there  he  taught  them  and 
preached  to  them. 

^[  His  sermons  appealed  to  the  heart,  to  the 
emotions.  Clothed  in  simple  yet  fervent  lan- 
guage, they  rang  with  the  eloquence  of  truth. 
At  times  they  were  direct  and  forceful  state- 
ments. Again,  they  were  in  the  attractive  form 
of  parables ;  but  at  all  times  their  purpose  was 
to  proclaim  and  define  the  Kingdom  of  God, 
which  he,  as  the  representative  of  the  Father, 
had  come  to  establish.  Nota  kingdom  of  earthly 
splendor,  such  as  a  popular  belief  had  taught 
that  the  Messiah  would  inaugurate,  but  a  spirit- 
ual dominion  of  love  and  humility ;  a  kingdom 
within  the  reach  of  every  repentant  and  believ- 
ing soul. 


[157] 


EARLY  a  year  had  now  elapsed     CHAPTER 
since    the    beginning    of  Jesus's     ELEVEN 
Galilean  ministry.   He  had  been 
absent  from  Capernaum  for  some 


time,  and  it  was  with  much  enthusiasm  that 
the  inhabitants  one  morning  received  the  news 
that  he  had  once  more  returned,  in  company 
with  his  twelve  disciples,  who  had  just  com- 
pleted their  first  missionary  work ;  having  trav- 
eled through  the  more  remote  parts  of  Galilee, 
preaching  and  healing  in  accordance  with  the 
instructions  of  the  master. 

The  people  of  the  surrounding  country  were 
soon  pouring  forth  to  welcome  him,  and  the 
throng  was  increased  by  passing  bands  of  pil- 
grims on  their  way  to  the  Passover.  But  as  both 
he  and  the  disciples  were  fatigued  and  in  need 

[-59] 


The  Story  of  °f  food  he  directed  that  they  cross  the  lake,  in 
a  Young  Man  order  to  avoid  the  crowds  that  were  rapidly 
gathering.  Accordingly,  they  entered  a  boat  and 
passed  over  to  a  secluded  spot  at  the  foot  of  a 
mountain,  about  six  miles  distant. 
^[  Divining  his  destination,  many  of  the  people 
hurried  toward  the  place  on  foot,  and  were 
joined  on  the  way  by  others  from  the  inter- 
mediate villages,  so  that  when  Jesus  stepped 
from  the  boat,  thinking  to  find  himself  alone 
with  his  companions,  he  beheld  a  multitude  al- 
ready awaiting  him,  and  companies  of  men, 
women  and  children  hastening  forward  from 
all  directions. 

^[  Instead  of  taking  offense  and  resenting  their 
intrusion  his  heart  was  filled  with  compassion. 
They  had  come  to  him  for  encouragement  and 
help,  and,  forgetting  in  a  moment  his  own 
wants,  he  went  among  them  with  kindly  words 
of  welcome;  and  as  they  gathered  about  him 

[,6o] 


on  the  grass-covered  hillside  he  cheered  their      ffo  Story  of 
hearts  with  one  of  his  ever-beautiful  and  soul-     a  Young  Man 
thrilling  sermons. 

^|  Scarcely  had  he  finished  speaking  when  the 
cries  of  the  sick  and  afflicted  who  had  dragged 
themselves  to  the  spot  drew  him  here  and  there 
amid  the  assembled  thousands ;  and  so  com- 
pletely absorbed  did  he  become  in  his  labor  of 
love  and  mercy,  that  he  failed  to  note  the  pas- 
sage of  time  until  one  of  his  disciples  called 
attention  to  the  lengthening  shadows,  and  sug- 
gested that  the  people  be  dismissed,  in  order  that 
they  might  return  to  the  villages  before  nightfall. 
^[But  with  that  loving  thoughtfulness  that  at 
all  times  characterized  his  nature  he  could  not 
brook  the  thought  of  sending  them  away  tired 
and  hungry,  as  they  must  indeed  be.  They  had 
been  there  several  hours;  many  of  them  had 
come  from  a  long  distance,  and  they  had  come 
to  greet  him  and  to  be  comforted. 

[161] 


The  Story  of          Presently  the  restless   crowds  were  stilled. 

a  Toung  Man    The  faint  and  the  weary  ceased  their  murmur- 
ings.  The  rabbi  was  about  to  feed  them ;  to  give 
food  to  the  hungry  thousands. 
*[[  In  obedience  to  his  instructions  they  seated 
themselves  in  small  groups,  half  doubting,  half 
expectant.  Was  it  possible  that  he  intended  to 
feed  them  all  and  in  this  place  ? 
^[  Yea,  it  was  indeed  true ;  for,  behold !  even  now 
they  were  being  served  with  bread  and  fish. 
^[  The  grateful  refreshment  was  eagerly  seized 
upon.  The  scene  of  a  short  time  before  was 
transformed  into  that  of  an  inspiring  feast ;  more 
than  five  thousand,  men,  women  and  children, 
eating  together  in  thankful  communion  amid 
the  sunset  glories  of  Nature's  solitude. 
^[  Then,  suddenly,  from  many  directions  at  once, 
came  the  question,  "Whence  comes  this  food?" 
^[  Each  man  looked  to  his  neighbor.  "  Yea, 
whence  comes  this  food  ?  Was  it  not  said  that 

[162] 


the  rabbi's  disciples  could  find  but  a  few  loaves     The  Story  of  • 
of  bread  and  two  or  three  small  fishes?"  a  Young  Man 

The  repast  came  to  an  end  amid  increasing 
surprise  and  astonishment,  which  rapidly  gave 
way  to  intense  excitement  as  the  people  realized 
that  they  were  the  witnesses  of  a  stupendous 
miracle.  Verily,  it  was  a  repetition  of  the  feed- 
ing of  Israel  in  the  wilderness  !  Lo,  the  very 
sign  by  which  the  scribes  had  said  that  the 
Messiah  would  manifest  himself! 

|  Shouts  now  arose  above  the  excited  com- 
ments of  the  throng.  A  wild  enthusiasm,  an 
ecstasy  of  religious  and  patriotic  emotion,  seized 
upon  the  people.  Jesus  was  their  King,  their 
Messiah  !  he  would  lead  them  to  victory  against 
the  Romans  !  Jerusalem  should  be  regained  ! 
Israel  should  triumph  above  her  enemies  ! 

J  In  a  tumult  of  tempestuous  zeal,  shouting, 
gesticulating,  the  mighty  host  surged  forward  in 
obedience  to  a  sudden,  overmastering  impulse. 


The  Story  of        J  "  Hail  to  Jesus,  the  King,  the  ruler  of  Israel ! 

a  Young  Man  Come  let  us  put  him  at  our  head.  We  will  fol- 
low him  to  the  Holy  City  !  Hail  to  the  con- 
queror !  Hail  to  the  Messiah  !  Jesus,  our  King, 
our  King !  " 

I  But  Jesus  had  disappeared.  At  the  first  mani- 
festation of  excitement  he  had  hastily  directed 
his  disciples  to  cross  the  lake,  and  had  himself 
sought  retirement  in  the  solitude  of  the  moun- 
tain ;  weak  and  exhausted,  and  bowed  down 
with  an  overwhelming  grief. 

The  end  had  come.  He  had  witnessed  the 
climax,  the  final  result,  of  all  his  months  of 
self-sacrificing  labor  among  the  people  of  Gali- 
lee. His  mission  was  a  failure  !  The  people  had 
not  understood  him.  And  now — now  they 
would  reject  him  ! 

{  Only  too  clearly  he  saw  that  his  refusal  to 
act  as  their  political  leader  and  his  failure  to 


He  sank  upon  the  ground  in  the  anguish  of  unutterable  sorrow  " 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


fulfill  their  material  conception  of  the  Messiah      y^  gforv  Of 
would  result  in  their  turning  from  him.  This     a  Young  Man 
was  the  outcome  of  his  teachings  and  the  re- 
ward for  his  labors.  This  was  the  return  for  his 
love  and  for  all  that  he  had  endured  for  the  sake 
of  his  fellow-beings. 

T  The  cries  of  the  multitude  still  rang  in  his 
ears  — "  Hail  to  the  Messiah  !  Jesus,  our  King ! 
our  King  !  "  From  the  plain  below  they  rose 
upon  the  evening  air,  torturing  his  soul  with 
their  bitter  significance.  Then,  gradually,  they 
grew  fainter  and  died  away.  Failing  to  find  him 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  had  turned  to  dis- 
appointment; and  the  last  murmur  of  voices 
was  gathered  into  the  mournful  solitude. 

The  day  faded  into  night,  and  about  him 
was  the  desolation  of  the  wilderness.  Alone  with 
the  Father,  and  beneath  the  cold  and  unpity- 
ing  light  of  the  stars,  he  sank  upon  the  ground 
in  the  anguish  of  unutterable  sorrow. 

[167] 


T  happened  as  Jesus  had  foreseen.    CHAPTER 
The  Galileans  turned  from  him    TWELVE, 
in   contempt.    They  were   disap- 
pointed and  angered  at  his  refusal 


to  accept  the  honor  which  they  were  ready  to 
bestow  upon  him. 

^|  On  the  following  day,  in  the  synagogue  of 
Capernaum,  he  endeavored  to  explain  to  them 
his  spiritual  character.  They  could  not  compre- 
hend it.  It  was  so  utterly  different  from  their 
preconceived  notions  of  the  Messianic  King, 
that  it  only  heightened  their  resentment  and 
drove  from  him  many  of  those  who  had  fol- 
lowed him  as  disciples. 

f[  But  the  faith  of  his  chosen  twelve  shone 
through  the  clouds  of  this  trying  ordeal  as  a 
softening  ray  of  hope  and  encouragement.  Their 


The  Story  of  love  for  the  master  was  too  deep,  too  sincere,  to 
a  Toung  Man  be  thus  suddenly  shattered.  Nor  was  their  devo- 
tion in  any  way  diminished  by  the  adversities 
which  now  quickly  followed  his  waning  popu- 
larity. They  had  shared  with  him  his  triumphs 
and  his  fame,  and  they  would  share  with  him 
his  misfortunes  and  his  trials. 
f[  It  was  rumored  that  Herod  Antipas,  who  had 
but  recently  executed  the  reformer  and  prophet, 
John  the  Baptist,  after  a  cruel  imprisonment  of 
many  months,  was  now  seeking  an  opportunity 
to  lay  hold  of  Jesus;  having  become  alarmed 
at  the  widespread  enthusiasm  aroused  by  him 
throughout  the  province. 

[|  Menaced  by  this  danger  and  spurned  by  his 
fellow-countrymen,  the  young  rabbi's  ministry 
in  Galilee  came  to  an  abrupt  and  thankless  ter- 
mination. With  his  company  of  devoted  friends 
he  forsook  the  familiar  scenes  of  his  daily  labors 
and  retreated  to  the  most  distant  and  retired  parts 

[170] 


of  the  province — an   outcast,  a  fugitive;   no     y^  Story  of 
longer  attended  by  enthusiastic  crowds  nor  sur-     a  Young:  Man 
rounded  by  admiring  multitudes,  but  seeking 
refuge  in  solitude  and  retirement. 

i  But  the  threatened  violence  of  Herod,  coupled 
with  the  ingratitude  of  the  people,  was  but  a 
minor  peril  compared  with  the  ever-increasing 
hatred  of  the  scribes  and  other  ecclesiastical 
leaders.  The  Pharisees  at  Jerusalem  had  watched 
the  movements  of  this  new  reformer  with  un- 
feigned anxiety  and  displeasure,  and  had  but 
recently  sent  deputations  to  Galilee  to  act  in 
concert  with  their  local  adherents  in  opposing 
him. 

They  resented  his  teachings  as  heretical  and 
revolutionary.  But  more  particularly  were  they 
incensed  at  his  deliberate  defiance  of  many  of 
their  cherished  rites  and  observances — washing 
the  hands  before  eating,  fasting  on  certain  oc- 
casions, and  other  like  formalities,  which  Jesus 

['7'] 


The  Story  of  not  onty  failed  to  observe,  but  which,  as  reli- 
a  Young  Man  gi°us  requirements,  he  denounced  as  vain  and 
contrary  to  the  true  spirit  of  God's  will. 

f[  The  antagonism  of  the  Pharisees,  which  had 
thus  been  aroused  from  the  very  beginning,  was 
constantly  augmented,  not  only  by  their  failure 
to  produce  any  substantial  opposition  to  the  new 
teacher,  but  by  the  manner  in  which  he  met 
their  attacks;  turning  upon  them  the  clear  light 
of  spiritual  purity  and  exposing  to  the  world 
their  hypocrisy  and  inconsistencies. 

f[  And  yet — true  to  the  sublime  loftiness  of  his 
character — his  words  of  rebuke  and  reprobation 
were  directed  against  his  opponents  as  a  class  — 
not  as  individuals;  for  as  creatures  of  God  they 
were  his  fellow-beings,  and  as  such  were  worthy 
of  his  charity  and  his  pity. 

fj"  Only  a  short  time  before  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  Capernaum — Jairus,  a  ruler 
of  the  synagogue — had  come  to  him  imploring 

[172] 


Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


A  PHARISEE 


his  aid  on  behalf  of  his  dying  daughter.  With  The  Story  of 
his  brother  Pharisees  he  had  previously  availed  a  Toung  Man 
himself  of  every  chance  to  oppose  the  young 
reformer.  But  now,  in  his  anxiety  for  his  child, 
all  his  bitterness  as  a  Pharisee  had  departed.  He 
was  but  a  human  being,  a  father,  pleading  for 
the  life  of  a  loved  one.  Throwing  himself  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus  he  humbly  acknowledged  the 
superiority  of  him  whom  he  had  been  perse- 
cuting, and  begged  that  he  would  now  assist 
him. 

j  Well  might  Jesus  have  spurned  him  with  con- 
tempt. Well  might  he  have  found  revenge  in 
this  brief  triumph  over  his  opponent.  But,  with 
that  love  and  forgiveness  which  formed  the  key- 
note of  his  teachings,  and  which  ever  illumined 
his  beautiful  nature,  he  hastened  to  the  assist- 
ance of  his  fellowman,  and  called  into  existence 
for  the  sake  of  this  one  sorrowing  soul  the 
mightiest  and  most  marvelous  manifestation  of 

['75] 


The  Story  of       his    exalted    being — the    power    of   life    over 

a  Young  Man     death. 

|  During  the  father's  absence  the  daughter  had 
died,  and  when  Jesus  reached  the  house  the 
mourners  had  already  assembled.  Bidding  them 
cease  their  noisy  lamentations,  he  entered  the 
room  in  which  the  young  girl  lay,  and  taking 
her  by  the  hand,  even  as  he  had  done  with  the 
widow's  son  at  Nain,  he  called  her  back  to 
life. 

[  His  bitterest  enemies  were  at  all  times  forced 
to  acknowledge  his  transcendent  powers ;  yet  it 
only  added  to  their  malicious  envy,  and  it  may 
well  be  imagined  that  they  were  filled  with  con- 
sternation at  the  enthusiasm  which  marked  his 
presence  in  Galilee  during  the  past  year.  As  the 
accepted  leaders  of  the  people,  the  scribes  and 
Pharisees  fiercely  resented  this  intrusion  on  the 
part  of  one  whose  teachings  were  so  strikingly 
at  variance  with  their  own. 


\\  Appreciating  their  inability  to  cope  with  the  The  Story  of 
situation,  they  succeeded  in  arousing  against  a  Young  Man 
Jesus  the  animosity  of  the  Herodians  and  the 
Sadducees,  two  of  the  most  influential  classes  of 
the  nation,  representing  the  Jewish  aristocracy 
and  the  higher  priesthood.  Selfish  and  conserva- 
tive, fond  of  worldly  pleasures,  and  courting  the 
favor  of  the  Romans,  they  took  but  little  interest 
in  the  religious  welfare  of  the  people;  so  that 
while  the  Pharisees,  in  their  fanatical  zeal  for 
everything  that  pertained  to  religion,  were 
deeply  concerned  regarding  the  ministry  of 
Jesus,  the  Sadducees  took  no  notice  of  it  until 
the  excitement  and  enthusiasm  aroused  on  all 
sides  gave  to  it  the  appearance  of  leading  to  a 
political  disturbance. 

This  they  knew  would  bring  down  the  iron 
hand  of  their  Roman  masters  and  imperil  their 
power  and  their  property,  and  out  of  fear  of  such 
a  consequence  they  finally  j  oined  with  the  Phari- 

l>77] 


The  Story  of       sees  m  a  common  cause  against  the  man  who 
a  Young  Man     was  threatening  the  peace  of  the  nation. 

Taking  advantage  of  his  sudden  rejection  by 
the  Galileans,  his  adversaries  pressed  their  oppo- 
sition with  more  boldness  and  determination. 
They  spied  upon  his  movements  and  dogged  his 
footsteps,  and,  whenever  they  overtook  him, 
arrogantly  disputed  with  him  on  points  of  law 
and  theology,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  so  far 
commit  himself  as  to  give  them  ground  for 
bringing  him  before  the  authorities. 
^[  For  six  weary  months  he  led  the  life  of  a 
fugitive.  There  was  no  house,  no  town  nor  vil- 
lage—  no,  not  even  any  section  of  the  country, 
that  he  could  now  call  his  home  or  where  he 
was  safe  from  molestation.  Hisjourneyings  were 
no  longer  triumphal  marches  from  town  to  town, 
amid  the  ringing  voices  of  the  multitudes,  but 
were  long  and  weary  flights  through  mountain 
wilds  and  across  the  desert  wastes. 


Then,  accompanied  by  his  disciples   and  a     'The  Story  of 
number  of  his  former  followers,  who  had  again    a  Toung  Man 
joined  him,  he  bade  farewell  to   Galilee  and 
turned  his  face  toward  Jerusalem. 
I   It  was  a  bold  and  perilous  step.  It  would  bring 
him  in  direct  contact  with  the  hostile  authori- 
ties and  place  him  at  the  mercy  of  his  enemies. 
His  disciples  urged  him  against  it;  but  he  an- 
swered that,  although  his  labors  in  Galilee  were 
finished,  his  mission  was  not  yet  fulfilled.  He 
still  had  work  to  do.  There  were  many  of  his 
people  to  whom  he  had  not  yet  appealed;  many 
to  whom  the  tidings  of  deliverance  had  not  yet 
come. 


[J79] 


T  was  the  month  of  October,  the    CHAPTER 
time  of  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles, 
that  most  picturesque  festival  of 
the  Jews,  when  for  seven  days  the 


THIRTEEN 


people  lived  in  booths  of  leafy  branches,  to  com- 
memorate the  tent-life  of  Israel  in  the  wilder- 
ness. All  who  could,  celebrated  the  festival  at 
Jerusalem,  and  the  great  city  was  now  em- 
bowered in  a  mass  of  foliage.  The  courts  of  the 
houses,  the  roofs,  the  streets,  were  filled  with 
booths.  Every  available  space  was  occupied  by 
these  leafy  structures  as  shelters  for  the  throngs 
that  were  gathered  together  on  this  festal  occa- 
sion. 

€T  Three  days  of  the  feast  had  passed  when 
suddenly  a  rumor  filled  the  air.  Then  came  the 
news.  It  passed  with  lightning-like  rapidity 

[181] 


'The  Story  of       from  one  to  another.  The  whole  city  was  astir. 

a  Toung  Man     Jesus,  the  Galilean,  had  arrived  ! 

fT  Flocking  to  the  Temple  the  curious  and  ex- 
pectant populace  beheld  the  famous  teacher,  the 
great  reformer,  the  mysterious,  the  wonderful 
man,  whose  name  was  known  from  one  end  of 
Palestine  to  the  other,  and  the  reports  of  whose 
miracles  and  teachings  had  stirred  Jerusalem 
with  wonder  and  apprehension. 
ff  The  discussions  regarding  him  had  led  to 
various  opinions.  There  were  those  who  be- 
lieved him  the  Christ,  the  Messiah.  Many 
regarded  him  simply  with  curious  interest, 
knowing  not  what  to  think  concerning  his 
claims,  yet  admitting  the  righteousness  of  his 
teachings,  while  not  a  few  condemned  him  as 
an  impostor. 

^]~  The  seclusiveness  that  had  marked  his  daily 
life  for  the  past  few  months  was  now  thrown 
aside.  From  the  day  of  his  arrival  he  fre- 


quented  the  Temple  and  boldly  preached  to  the  The  Story  of 
crowds  that  thronged  about  him  with  eager  a  Young  Man 
interest.  Such  absolute  fearlessness  completely 
disconcerted  the  Temple  authorities.  They 
knew  that  he  was  aware  of  their  unfriendly 
feelings  and  intentions,  and  yet  he  daringly  in- 
vaded the  very  precincts  of  their  tribunal,  and 
calmly  defied  them.  Overcome  with  astonish- 
ment, and  hardly  knowing  what  course  to  pursue 
in  the  face  of  such  superlative  manhood,  they 
contented  themselves  with  listening  to  the  fear- 
less intruder,  convinced  that  sooner  or  later  his 
utterances  would  serve  them  as  a  pretext  for 
action  against  him. 

I  Whenever  he  appeared  in  any  one  of  the 
Temple  courts  he  was  immediately  surrounded 
by  a  mass  of  men  and  women.  He  was  never  at 
a  loss  for  an  audience.  Eager  listeners  were  ever 
pressing  forward  to  be  within  sight  of  him  as 
he  sat  and  preached  in  the  midst  of  these  im- 


The  Story  of  promptu  gatherings.  The  people  of  Jerusalem 
a  Younv  Man  could  now  understand  how  he  had  made  so 
great  a  popular  impression.  His  power  lay  as 
much  in  himself — in  the  influence  of  his  per- 
sonality —  as  in  what  he  said.  His  calm  dignity, 
the  undefmable  majesty  of  his  bearing,  and  the 
intense,  soulful  earnestness  of  his  voice  gave  to 
his  words  the  force  of  an  authority  that  was 
more  than  human. 

C"  Suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his  dis- 
courses, he  was  interrupted  by  a  commotion  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  assembled  audience.  The 
Temple  police  were  seen  advancing.  The  au- 
thorities had  decided  upon  his  arrest.  His  utter- 
ances were  too  presumptuous,  too  heretical  - 
nay,  they  were  blasphemous.  Already  he  was 
arousing  undue  discussion  and  excitement. 
Hundreds  were  becoming  converts  to  his  het- 
erodox teachings.  His  influence  must  be  speedily 
checked. 


f|"  Unmindful  of  the  impending  danger,  Jesus    y^  Story  of 
continued  with   his  address.  The  guards  hesi-    a  Young  Man 
tated.  The  voice  of  the  man  smote  them  with 
a  strange  fear.  His  words  thrilled  them  with 
awe.  They  stopped  and  listened,  overcome  by 
his  impressive  dignity  and  the  power  of  his 
eloquence.  They  feared  to  approach  him,  and 
returned  empty-handed   to  their  superior  offi- 
cers. 

fT  The  chief  priests  and  their  brother  officials 
soon  realized  that  the  arrest  of  Jesus  would 
be  a  more  serious  matter  than  they  had  antici- 
pated. Not  only  had  they  as  yet  no  material 
evidence  against  him,  but  the  popularity  he  was 
rapidly  creating  also  rendered  it  both  difficult 
and  hazardous  to  publicly  apprehend  him. 
There  were  many  who  would  not  hesitate  to 
take  his  part,  and  his  arrest  might  therefore 
bring  about  the  very  result  which  the  chief 
priests — the  Sadducees  —  were  laboring  to 


The  Story  of      avoid.  So  that  while  they  had  thought  to  quick- 
a  Young  Man     ly  end  the  career  of  this  Galilean,  the  days  and 
the  weeks  went  by  and  he  still  fearlessly  pur- 
sued his  ministry  in  their  very  midst. 

[  During  this  period  of  his  labors  in  Jerusa- 
lem and  the  neighboring  parts  of  the  country 
he  was  enabled  for  the  first  time  since  the 
commencement  of  his  work  to  taste  of  the 
pleasures  of  home.  Close  to  Jerusalem,  though 
hidden  from  view  by  the  Mount  of  Olives,  lay 
the  little  town  of  Bethany,  its  white,  flat-roofed 
houses  half  concealed  amid  the  orchards  and  the 
gardens  that  surrounded  them.  In  this  charm- 
ing and  sequestered  spot  dwelt  two  sisters,  Mary 
and  Martha,  and  their  brother,  Lazarus. 
\  In  this  little  household  Jesus  was  at  all  times 
a  welcome  and  honored  guest.  The  embowered 
dwelling,  with  its  tranquil  surroundings  and 
refreshing  comforts,  stood  ever  open  to  receive 
him.  It  offered  a  restful  shelter  from  the  con- 

[  1 86] 


fusion  and  the  dangers  of  the  Temple  courts  or     tj-fc  gf0ry  Of 
the  exhausting  labors  of  his  occasional  mission-     a  Young  Man 
ary  journeys.  It  was  indeed  a  home,  a  refuge, 
a  haven  of  rest,  hallowed  by  the  loving  minis- 
trations of  noble  women  and  the  friendship  of 
a  true  and  worthy  man. 

^J"  The  attachment  between  Jesus  and  these 
friends  at  Bethany  dated  from  their  first  meet- 
ing ;  and,  nourished  by  the  sweet  familiarity  of 
increasing  affection,  it  grew  ever  stronger  and 
more  beautiful  with  the  passing  of  time.  The 
brother  and  sisters,  in  their  love  and  admira- 
tion for  their  gifted  friend,  looked  forward 
always  in  happy  anticipation  to  the  days  on 
which  the  home  would  be  gladdened  by  his 
presence  ;  while  their  unfailing  kindness  and 
delicate  attentions  appealed  with  peculiar  force 
to  the  responsive  heart  of  Jesus,  and  contrib- 
uted to  a  friendship  that  he  cherished  as  one  of 
the  dearest  and  most  comforting  of  his  life. 

['87J 


The  Story  of       IT  This  peaceful  home  at  Bethany  meant  to  him 

a  Young  Man      not  only  loving  hospitality  ;  not  only  bodily  rest 

and   repose   of  mind;    but,   above  all   else,    it 

meant  for  him  sympathy  and  appreciation  — 

that  heart  refreshment  for  which  his  sensitive, 

exalted  nature  so  often  thirsted  in  vain. 

^T  Yet  the  happiness  which  this  taste  of  home 

life  brought  to  the  weary  heart  of  Jesus  was  but 

a  rift  in   the  clouds   that  were  growing  ever 

darker  and  more  ominous. 

f[  The  animosity  of  the  Pharisees  and  the  ec- 
clesiastical officials  steadily  increased.  Every 
possible  effort  was  used  to  counteract  his  influ- 
ence. It  was  made  a  misdemeanor  to  listen  to 
him.  Those  who  dared  to  acknowledge  him  as 
the  Messiah  were  excommunicated.  He  was 
himself  excommunicated  — branded  as  a  sinner 
and  forbidden  to  enter  the  synagogues.  The 
accusation  that  he  was  possessed  of  a  devil  was 
again  brought  forward.  His  lowly  birth,  his 


humble  circumstances,  his  lack  of  schooling,     ^fa  Story  of 
his  unconventional  mode  of  life  —  all  were  set     a  Young  Man 
forth  as  damaging  facts. 

These  malicious  efforts  were  not  without 
their  effect.  They  awakened  suspicion  and 
contempt  among  many  of  the  more  strictly 
orthodox  Jews.  With  the  masses,  however,  his 
popularity  continued  to  increase;  and  through 
the  overmastering  force  of  his  personality  and 
his  surprising  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures  he 
succeeded  for  the  time  in  thwarting  every  effort 
of  his  opponents  to  involve  him. 

One  day,  shortly  after  his  arrival  in  Jerusalem, 
as  he  was  seated  in  the  centre  of  a  group  of  lis- 
teners in  the  Temple,  he  was  called  upon  by 
some  of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  in  authority 
to  give  his  opinion  on  a  judicial  question.  Drag- 
ging forward  a  young  woman,  convicted  of 
having  broken  one  of  the  Ten  Command- 
ments, they  said  to  him  with  feigned  humility 


The  Story  of       an^  reverence:  "Teacher,  the  law  of  Moses 
a  Young  Man     commands  that  one  guilty  of  the  sin  committed 
by  this  woman  shall  be  stoned  to  death.  What  is 
your  opinion?" 

^[  If  he  answered  that  the  penalty  should  be  en- 
forced it  would  injure  him  in  the  eyes  of  the 
people,  for  the  Scriptural  law  in  this  particular 
had  long  been  obsolete,  and  to  revive  it  now 
would  arouse  a  storm  of  public  indignation.  If, 
on  the  other  hand,  he  decided  that  the  woman 
should  be  dismissed,  he  would  be  charged  by 
the  authorities  with  slighting  the  law,  for  it 
was  still  binding,  even  though  unobserved. 
^[  His  enemies  thought  they  had  succeeded  in 
placing  him  in  a  predicament.  They  congratu- 
lated themselves  that  they  had  at  last  found  an 
opportunity  of  not  only  humiliating  him  before 
the  public,  but  also  of  proving  him  guilty  of  an 
offense. 

*[[  All  eyes  were  turned  upon  him.  What  would 

[190] 


he  answer?  With  averted  face  he  stooped  and    The  Story  of 
wrote  with  his  ringer  upon  the  dust  of  the  floor,    a  Toung  Man 
\  "He  is  bewildered.  He  knows  not  how  to 
reply,"  w.ere  the  whispered  comments  of  the 
scribes ;  and  again  they  put  the  question  to  him, 
this  time  more  boldly. 

]  Slowly  rising  and  turning  his  calm,  penetrat- 
ing gaze  full  upon  his  opponents,  he  said :  "  If 
there  be  one  among  you  who  is  without  sin,  let 
him  cast  the  first  stone  at  this  woman,  as  re- 
quired of  the  chief  witness  by  the  law  of  Moses." 

Rebuked  and  mortified  at  his  masterful 
evasion  of  the  snare  they  had  set  for  him,  the 
scribes  and  Pharisees  knew  not  what  to  reply ; 
and,  to  conceal  their  confusion,  they  retired 
hastily  from  the  court,  followed  by  the  wonder- 
ing crowd,  leaving  Jesus  alone  with  the  woman, 
whom  he  dismissed  with  a  few  kind  words  of 
pity  and  admonition. 

The  invariable  failure  of  their  attempts  to 


The  Story  of  compromise  him  served  only  to  irritate  his  an- 
a  Toung  Man  tagonists  the  more ;  yet  nothing  so  violently 
exasperated  them  as  his  claims  regarding  him- 
self. During  the  first  part  of  his  ministry  he  had 
been  somewhat  reticent  on  this  subject,  but  now 
he  took  advantage  of  every  opportunity  to  boldly 
set  forth  the  divine  character  of  his  personality 
in  his  relation  to  the  Father. 

i  The  orthodox  and  prejudiced  Jews  failed 
utterly  to  appreciate  the  meaning  of  his  spir- 
itual teachings  in  this  respect,  and  resented  his 
amazing  claims  with  all  the  venom  of  their 
hatred  and  bigotry,  until,  finally,  there  occurred 
the  open  rupture  that  had  been  so  long  im- 
pending. 

I  It  was  at  the  Feast  of  Dedication,  in  the 
month  of  December.  He  had  been  absent  from 
the  city  for  a  short  time,  in  the  hope  of  thus 
allaying  the  irritation  of  his  enemies,  which 
had  at  last  become  so  intense  that  he  was  in 

[192] 


danger  of  personal  injury  at  the  hands  of  some     The  Story  of 
of  the  more  fanatical.  He  had  scarcely  entered     a  Young  Man 
the  Temple,  however,  before  he  found  himself 
surrounded   by  a  large  number  of  those  un- 
friendly to  him.  Smarting  under  their  many 
failures,  they  were  now  more  determined  than 
ever  to  effect  his  downfall. 

They  at  once  sought  to  enter  into  a  discus- 
sion with  him  regarding  his  alleged  claims  to 
the  Messiahship.  They  demanded  that  he  no 
longer  hold  them  in  suspense.  Was  he  the 
Christ?  They  insisted  on  a  definite  answer. 

I  But  he  refused  to  comply  with  their  arro- 
gant demands.  He  told  them  that  it  would  be 
useless  to  answer  them.  They  had  seen  his 
works  and  had  heard  his  teachings. They  needed 
no  other  testimony. 

[["The  works  I  do,"  he  continued,  "are  in- 
spired of  God.  In  me  the  Father  is  revealed ;  for 
the  Father  and  I  are  one." 

[J93] 


The  Story  of  ^  In  an  instant  his  excitable  adversaries  burst 
a  Young  Man  into  a  cry  of  rage.  "He  blasphemes!"  they 
shouted.  "He  blasphemes!  He  calls  himself 
God!"  and  rushing  hither  and  thither  in  a 
frenzy  of  fanaticism  they  picked  up  the  loose 
stones  that  lay  scattered  about  in  the  vicinity  of 
some  recent  repairs  to  one  of  the  Temple  walls. 
[  In  their  fury  they  would  at  once  have  put 
him  to  death,  but  his  imperturbable  serenity 
overawed  them  for  the  moment.  Their  violent 
outburst  had  not  moved  him.  He  attempted  no 
defense,  no  remonstrance;  but  calmly  facing 
the  crowd  of  angry  and  excited  men  that 
pressed  about  him  with  arms  upraised  to  beat 
him  down  with  their  deadly  missiles,  he  con- 
tinued to  address  them ;  and  then,  fearlessly 
and  defiantly,  repeated  his  astonishing  state- 
ment. 

I  It  was  the  finishing  stroke.The  crowd  rushed 
toward  him. The  momentary  barrier  of  restraint 

[J94] 


was  swept  away.  His  friends  quickly  surrounded     The  Story  of 
him  and  endeavored  to  repel  the  frantic  mob.     a  Toung  Man 
Shouts  and  imprecations  filled  the  air.  "Kill 
him!  Kill  him!'*  rose  on  all  sides.  "The  blas- 
phemer! Stone  him!  Kill  him!" 

But  in  the  tumult  and  confusion  he  disap- 
peared, and  escaped  from  the  Temple. 


[195] 


T  was  now  clearly  evident  that  he     CHAPTER 
could  no  longer  remain  in  Jeru-     FOURTEEN 
salem.    According    to    the   strict 
teachings  of  Judaism  he  was  guilty 


of  deliberate  blasphemy,  and  though  the  offense 
was  not  recognized  by  the  civil  authorities  Jesus 
knew  full  well  that  the  fanatical  Jews  would 
not  hesitate  to  mete  out  to  him  on  their  own  re- 
sponsibility the  penalty  prescribed  by  the  law  of 
Moses;  that  if  he  again  came  within  their  reach 
they  would  undoubtedly  attempt  to  stone  him. 
j  Accordingly,  he  fled  from  the  city  and  from 
the  province,  seeking  refuge  in  the  neighbor- 
ing territory  of  Perea,  where,  with  his  ever- 
faithful  apostles,  he  continued  his  work.  What- 
ever his  trials  or  adversities,  the  great  purpose 
of  his  life  was  never  forgotten. 

[J97] 


The  Story  of  1[  With  his  wonted  earnestness  he  proclaimed 
a  Young  Man  the  Kingdom  of  God  to  the  people  among  whom 
he  now  came,  and  was  cheered  by  the  success 
that  rewarded  his  labors.  It  seemed  for  the  time 
as  though  the  happy  scenes  of  his  early  Gali- 
lean ministry  were  about  to  be  repeated.  Many 
joined  him  as  disciples,  and  large  numbers  of 
persons  frequently  crowded  about  him,  eager  to 
listen  to  his  words  of  hope  and  salvation.  Even 
the  children  flocked  to  him,  seeking  his  bless- 
ing and  delighting  in  his  tender  and  sympathe- 
tic love. 

f[  In  the  midst  of  these  gratifying  labors  he 
received  the  distressing  news  that  his  dearly 
loved  friend,  Lazarus,  of  Bethany,  was  danger- 
ously ill.  The  message  was  sent  to  him  by  the 
sisters.  They  did  not  ask  him  to  come,  yet  he 
knew  they  expected  him ;  that  they  looked  to 
him,  their  friend,  for  comfort  and  assistance  in 
their  affliction. 


^[  His  first  impulse  was  to  hasten  to  Bethany      c[jie  Sforv  Of 
at  once.  But  should  he  forego  the  labors  that  at     a  Youny  Man 
this  time  hourly  claimed  his  attention  ?  Should 
he  leave  his  work  in  the  midst  of  its  exacting 
duties  and  when  his  guiding  presence  was  most 
necessary  ?  Should  he  do  this  for  his  friends,  his 
faithful,  generous  friends  of  Bethany  ? 
^[  The  answer  came  from  the  throne  of  his  lofty 
nature  :  Yes,  he  would  go  to  them.  And  within 
two  days  after  the  receipt  of  the  sisters'  message 
he  had  made  his  preparations  and  announced 
his  intention  to  the  disciples. 
^[  Out  of  fear  for  the  safety  of  their  master  the 
disciples  reminded   him   that   the   Jews  were 
seeking  his  life ;  that  he  could  not  return  to 
Judea  without  incurring  the  greatest  risk  ;  and 
they  urged  him  to  consider  the  special  danger 
to  which  he  would  be  exposed  should  his  pres- 
ence in  Bethany  become  known  at  Jerusalem. 
^[  But  he  thought  not  of  himself.  It  mattered 

['99] 


The  Story  of  not  to  him  that  he  was  in  danger.  He  owed  a 
a  Toung  Man  duty  to  his  friends ;  that  alone  was  his  guiding 
impulse.  And  so,  regardless  of  his  disciples'  per- 
suasions, he  set  forth  for  the  village  of  Bethany. 
True  to  their  love  and  devotion,  the  disciples 
accompanied  him.  "  If  he  will  go,"  said  they, 
"  let  us  go  also,  and  die  with  him." 
f[  Reaching  his  destination  in  safety,  he  was 
greeted  with  sobs  and  lamentations  by  the  two 
sisters,  who,  learning  of  his  approach,  had  come 
out  of  the  village  to  meet  him.  He  had  come 
too  late.  Lazarus  was  dead. 
fj"  The  sisters  were  inconsolable  in  their  de- 
spairing grief.  They  felt  that  Lazarus  need  not 
have  died ;  that  had  Jesus  been  with  them  their 
dear  brother  would  have  been  spared.  In  sob- 
bing accents  they  recounted  his  sickness,  and 
their  pathetic  longing  for  the  comforter  and 
physician  who  alone  could  have  healed  their 
troubled  hearts. 

[200] 


I  Overcome  with  sorrow  and  moved  by  the     The  Story  of 
desolation   of  the  heartbroken  women,  Jesus     a  Young  Man 
bowed  his  head  and  gave  vent  to  his  heart's 
emotion  in  silent  tears. 

Then  turning  to  Mary  and  Martha  he  asked 
them  to  show  him  where  they  had  laid  his  dear 
friend  to  rest.  Followed  by  a  number  of  friends 
and  mourners  who  had  come  with  the  sisters 
from  the  house,  where  they  had  assembled  to 
offer  their  condolences,  Jesus  accompanied  the 
two  women  to  the  grave.  Like  most  tombs  in 
the  limestone  regions  of  Palestine,  it  was  a  re- 
cess cut  in  the  side  of  a  natural  cave,  and  closed 
by  a  large  stone. 

I  Arrived  at  the  spot,  Jesus  asked  that  the  stone 
be  removed.  Evidently  he  had  forgotten  the 
length  of  time  the  body  had  lain  in  the  grave, 
and  Martha  hurriedly  reminded  him  that  nearly 
four  days  had  passed  since  Lazarus  was  buried. 
But  in  words  pregnant  with  mysterious  import 

[201] 


The  Story  of      Jesus  gently  insisted  that  the  tomb  be  opened ; 

a  Tounr  Man     and  without  further  protest  his  instructions  were 
obeyed. 

^[  The  scene  was  a  desert  wilderness  ;  a  spot 
shut  out  from  the  sight  of  human  habitation ; 
grim  and  desolate  with  the  overshadowing  spirit 
of  death.  Here  the  little  group  of  mourners  now 
gathered.  Standing  apart  in  respectful  silence 
they  gazed  with  compassionate  interest  upon  the 
friend  of  the  departed  Lazarus,  as  he  stood  with 
bowed  head  before  the  open  door  of  the  sep- 
ulchre. 

f[  The  calm  of  evening  brooded  upon  the  touch- 
ing scene.  The  ruffling  breeze  that  stole  across 
the  distant  fields  faded  to  rest  amid  the  shadows 
of  the  garden  of  death.  No  sound  disturbed  the 
stillness  save  the  murmured  weeping  of  the  sis- 
ters. The  lips  of  Jesus  moved,  but  in  silence. 
He  was  praying. 

f]~  Then,  raising  his  head  and  gazing  into  the 

[202] 


"  He  called  aloud,  in  a  voice  vibrant  with  divine  power: '.  Lazarus  !  Come  forth  ! '  " 


Copyright,  1901,  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


gloomy  depths  of  the  sepulchre,  he  called  aloud,     cj-fo  Qf0rv  Of 
in  a  voice  vibrant  with  divine  power:  "Laza-     a  Young  Man 
rus!  Come  forth!" 

^J  Overcome  with  consternation  the  group  of 
startled   men  and  women  drew  back,  staring 
at  the  open  grave  in  speechless  expectancy. 
^[  "  Lazarus !  Come  forth ! " 
^  The  words  had  scarcely  died  away  when  lo ! 
he  that  was  dead  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the 
tomb. 

^|"  The  effect  of  the  miracle  was  overwhelming. 
The  bystanders  could  not  for  a  moment  credit 
their  senses.  They  stood  aghast,  motionless,  awe- 
struck. 

^[  With  the  return  of  their  faculties  some 
of  them  came  forward  trembling,  in  obedience 
to  the  command  of  Jesus,  to  loose  the  grave- 
clothes  from  him  who  again  breathed — who 
moved — yea,  who  again  spoke  to  them;  spoke 
to  them  with  the  breath  of  life,  with  the  voice 

[205] 


The  Story  of      of  flesh  and  blood — with  the  familiar  voice  of 
a  Toung  Man     their  friend,  their  brother  —  Lazarus,  Lazarus, 
alive  and  well! 

jf  Others  hastened  away,  overwrought  with  ex- 
citement and  eager  to  spread  the  marvelous 
news.  Among  them  were  several  rabbis,  to  whom 
the  miracle  was  a  sign  of  the  gravest  portent. 
What  could  it  mean  ?  Was  it  possible  that  this 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  indeed  the  Messiah  ?  When 
had  such  a  miracle  been  known?  The  authorities 
at  Jerusalem  must  hear  of  it  at  once,  and  toward 
the  Temple  the  rabbis  bent  their  steps  in  fever- 
ish haste. 

if  No  sooner  did  the  report  of  the  occurrence 
at  Bethany  reach  the  Temple  than  a  council  of 
the  chief  priests  was  hurriedly  assembled.  In- 
stant and  decisive  action  was  necessary.  The 
Galilean  must  be  arrested  at  once!  His  popu- 
larity with  the  masses  would  know  no  bounds 
as  soon  as  the  news  of  this  most  astounding 

[206] 


miracle  became  known.  The  safety  of  the  na-     The  Story  of 
tion,  the  peace  of  the  people,  demanded  his    a  Young  Man 
immediate  suppression.There  was  but  one  course 
to  pursue  —  he  must  be  put  to  death! 


[207] 


LL  Palestine  was  aglow  with  the     CHAPTER 
blush  of  spring.   From  field  and       FIFTEEN 
garden,  from  orchard  and  moun- 
tain forest  rose  the  soft  and  per- 


fumed breath  of  wakening  life,  while  earth  and 

0 

Heaven  rang  with  the  music,  the  hallelujah,  of 
Nature's  choristers.  The  world  was  astir  with 
hope  and  with  gladness.  It  was  the  dawn  of  the 
new  year;  the  time  of  the  Passover,  the  cele- 
bration of  Israel's  deliverance. 
[  Already  a  large  number  of  pilgrims  had 
reached  the  Holy  City,  and  companies  and 
caravans  from  all  parts  of  the  country  were 
hourly  arriving.  On  every  hand  preparations 
for  the  great  feast  were  going  forward,  and  the 
city  teemed  with  busy  and  joyous  life. 

Yet  the  affairs  of  the  coming  festival  did  not 
[209] 


The  Story  of  alone  claim  the  attention  of  the  people.  A  matter 
a  Young  Man  °f  even  greater  importance  than  the  Passover 
was  before  them.  A  feeling  of  expectancy,  a 
subdued  excitement,  pervaded  the  air.  Men 
gathered  together  in  groups  and  engaged  in 
animated  conversation.  A  topic  of  unusual  mo- 
ment was  uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of  every 
one. 

f[  Especially  did  it  engage  the  attention  of 
the  Jewish  authorities.  To  them  it  was  a  matter 
of  the  most  serious  consequence.  It  formed  the 
one  subject  of  discussion  among  them.  Would 
Jesus  attend  the  feast?  they  inquired  one  of 
another.  Would  he  again  dare  to  defy  them  ? 
Orders  for  his  arrest  had  been  sent  to  all  parts 
of  the  district  embraced  in  the  jurisdiction  of 
Jerusalem,  and  yet  it  was  rumored  that  he  was 
even  now  on  his  way  to  Jericho,  followed  by  a 
great  multitude.  Their  fears  regarding  the  effect 
of  his  miracle  at  Bethany  had  been  only  too 

[210] 


fully  realized.  He  had  eluded  them  in  their  at-      cr^e  $torv  Of 
tempt  to  arrest  him  at  the  time,  and  now  his     a  founs. 
name  was  ringing  throughout  the  country,  and 
the  people  were  ready  to  acknowledge  him  as 
their  leader. 

^r  The  excitement  of  the  citizens  and  the  fears 
of  the  officials  steadily  increased.  Jesus,  the 
Galilean,  had  reached  the  village  of  Bethany. 
The  wildest  rumors  filled  the  air :  He  was  about 
to  enter  the  city  at  the  head  of  an  army.  Thou- 
sands were  rallying  to  his  support.  He  was  the 
Christ,  the  Nation's  Saviour.  The  Passover  was 
to  be  glorified  by  the  final  and  triumphant  de- 
liverance of  Israel. 

fT  Look !  Along  the  highway  that  swept  across 
the  brow  of  Mt.  Olivet  and  was  plainly  visible 
from  the  Temple  porches,  came  a  vast  con- 
course of  pilgrims  in  martial  array.  An  army  of 
men  was  slowly  approaching  the  city  gates. 
f|  In  the  midst  of  the  advancing  throng,  and 

[211] 


The  Story  of       forming  its  central  figure,  was  a  young  man  rid- 

a  Young  Man     ing  upon  an  ass. 

!  No  longer  was  it  a  matter  of  doubt  or  suppo- 
sition: Jesus  of  Galilee  had  returned.  He  was 
about  to  enter  the  city ;  not  as  he  had  done  six 
months  before,  at  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles, 
quietly  and  unobserved,  but  boldly  and  trium- 
phantly, as  a  leader;  as  a  king. 

The  resurrection  of  Lazarus  had  become 
known  to  the  vast  army  of  pilgrims  converging 
upon  Jerusalem  from  the  various  towns  and  dis- 
tricts of  Palestine,  and  had  awakened  in  the 
people  of  the  provinces  their  old-time  enthu- 
siasm. Large  numbers  had  at  once  sought  him 
out  and  accompanied  him  from  Jericho  to  Beth- 
any. Others,  coming  from  various  directions, 
had  halted  at  the  village  and  joined  those  al- 
ready there,  waiting  for  him  to  set  forth  for 
Jerusalem,  after  resting  over  the  Sabbath  at  the 
home  of  his  friends;  while  hundreds  who  had 

[212] 


already  reached  the  city,  learning  of  his  near     c^fo  gfory  of 
approach,  had  gone  out  to  meet  him  with  joyful     a  Young  Man 
acclamations  and  songs  of  welcome. 
ff  And  now,  as  the  multitude  of  pilgrims  drew 
near  to  the  city  and  beheld  the  glittering  walls 
and  pillars  of  the  Temple  standing  in  majestic 
grandeur  upon  its  lofty  hill,  their  hearts  over- 
flowed with  fervid  emotion,  and  they  broke 
forth  into  glad-shouts  and  hosannas  in  honor  of 
him  who  was  leading  them  to  the  Holy  City. 
With  the  natural  ability  of  people  of  the  East 
to  improvise,  their  acclamations  soon  took  a 
rhythmical  and  definite  form,  and  ere  long  the 
voices  of  the  entire  multitude  were  joined  in  a 
glorious  psalm  of  praise  and  invocation : 
C"  "Give  thanks,  O  Jehovah,  to  the  Son  of 
David !  Blessed  be  he,  the  King  of  Israel,  that 
cometh  in  the  name  of  Jehovah?" 
%"  Yea,  he  was  their  King !  He  would  restore 
the  power  of  Israel !  As  they  sang  their  enthu- 

[2I3] 


The  Story  of  siasm  increased.  Their  voices  rose  higher  and 
a  Young  Man  more  exultant.  In  the  fervency  of  their  emo- 
tions many  of  them  spread  their  cloaks  upon  the 
ground  that  Jesus  might  tread  upon  them,while 
others  strewed  the  road  with  blossoms  and  ten- 
der branches  cut  from  the  trees  along  the  way. 
[  Onward  moved  the  imposing  procession.  It 
crossed  the  brook  at  the  foot  of  Olivet,  and, 
mounting  the  slope  that  led  to  the  gate  of  the 
city,  passed  on  through  the  streets  toward  the 
Temple.  It  increased  in  numbers  as  it  went, 
hundreds  hurrying  from  every  quarter  to  join  it 
and  swell  the  chorus.  The  shouts  rang  louder. 
The  enthusiasm  and  excitement  grew  more  in- 
tense every  moment. The  processionists  plucked 
branches  from  the  palms  and  olive  trees  as  they 
passed,  and  waved  them  in  triumph.  The  citi- 
zens of  Jerusalem  ran  to  their  doors.  What  was 
the  meaning  of  this  unusual  demonstration? 
What  great  personage  had  arrived? 

["4] 


"  Who  is  it?"  they  asked  with  eager  curiosity.     The  Story  of 
\  "Jesus  of  Nazareth!"  called  back  the  multi-    a  Young  Man 
tude  in  proud  and  exultant  answer. 
|  Amid  this  scene  of  inspiring  jubilation  Jesus 
alone  remained  unmoved.  In  striking  contrast 
to  the  joyous  faces  about  him  his  countenance 
revealed  a  heart  of  tender  sadness.  Again  his 
fellow-men  were  hailing  him  as  their  King.  He 
did  not  now  attempt  to  undeceive  them.  It  would 
be  useless.  He  meekly  accepted  the  royal  honors 
they  were  bestowing  upon  him.  He  was  their 
King,  their  Messiah.  Their  false  conception  of 
his  sublime  office  made  him  none  the  less  worthy 
of  their  homage. 

f  Arrived  at  the  Temple,  he  dismounted  and 
entered.  The  excited  throng  of  pilgrims  who 
had  accompanied  him  expected  an  immediate 
manifestation  of  his  powers  as  their  deliverer. 
But  after  a  solemn  survey  of  the  scene  about 
him  he  quietly  withdrew.  The  day  was  drawing 

E«sJ 


The  Story  of       to  a  cl°se>  and  he  returned  with  his  disciples  to 

a  Toung  Man     Bethany. 

f  [  Though  the  people  were  sorely  disappointed, 
the  excitement  and  disturbance  aroused  in  every 
quarter  by  the  day's  events  were  destined  to 
continue;  for  on  each  of  the  following  days 
—  Monday  and  Tuesday  —  Jesus  again  ap- 
peared in  the  city. 

f[  To  his  customary  fearlessness  there  was  now 
added  a  commanding  mastership.  Without  op- 
position he  drove  from  the  Temple  the  dealers 
and  money-changers  whom  he  again  found  pro- 
faning the  Sanctuary.  Defying  the  threats  of  the 
authorities  and  scorning  the  antagonism  of  the 
Jerusalemites,  he  openly  frequented  the  Tem- 
ple, and  there  taught  and  healed  the  many  who 
flocked  to  him;  at  the  same  time  setting  forth 
more  plainly  than  ever  his  claims  to  the  Mes- 
siahship. 
f[  In  vain  his  enemies  endeavored  to  check  him. 

[2.6] 


Pharisees,   Sadducees,   Herodians,  scribes   and     fjrfc  $forv  Of 
priests,  uniting  in  a  common  cause,  assailed  him     a  Young  Man 
with  all  the  strength  of  their  combined  power 
and  influence.  In  the  pomp  of  official  costume 
and  exalted  station  they  set  themselves  against 
this   simple    Galilean,   while    the    multitudes 
looked  on. 

^T  They  entered  into  a  keen  and  prolonged  con- 
troversy with  him,  putting  forward  their  cham- 
pions of  debate  to  entangle  him  in  his  talk  and 
elicit  from  him  something  that  would  serve  to 
incriminate  him  before  the  civil  authorities. 
ff  But  Jesus  was  far  more  than  a  match  for 
them.  Hour  by  hour  he  unflinchingly  met  their 
attack.  Alone  and  unaided  he  repelled  their 
treacherous  assaults.  His  straightforwardness 
put  their  duplicity  to  shame,  and  his  knowl- 
edge and  his  skill  in  argument  foiled  their  every 
attempt  to  entrap  him. 

f[  Then  suddenly  turning  upon  them,  and  as- 

[217] 


The  Story  of  suming  the  aggressive,  he  gave  expression  with 
a  Toung  Man  all  the  force  of  his  sublime  eloquence  to  the 
pent-up  indignation  of  a  righteous  heart;  expos- 
ing their  hypocrisy  and  corruption  in  words  at 
once  so  forceful,  so  incisive,  so  full  of  bitter 
scorn  and  spirited  rebuke,  that  his  proud  listeners 
cringed  before  him  in  the  consciousness  of  his 
overwhelming  superiority. 
[  It  was  the  final  and  decisive  breach  between 
him  and  the  representatives  of  the  nation.  He 
had  utterly  humiliated  them  and  disgraced 
them  before  the  people.  It  was  intolerable,  un- 
bearable; and  burning  with  desire  for  revenge 
they  resolved  that  nothing  should  now  interfere 
with  their  determination  to  destroy  him. 

A  council  was  accordingly  held  at  the  palace 
of  Caiaphas,  the  high  priest.  Summary  measures 
must  be  taken  for  the  arrest  of  the  Galilean.  His 
defiance  had  already  been  allowed  to  go  too  far. 
He  must  be  brought  before  the  Roman  Gov- 


Copyright,  1901,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


CAIAPHAS 


ernor  and  charged  with  some  capital  offense,     (j-fc  gf0rv  Of 
The  welfare  of  the  nation,  the  power  and  dig-     a  Young  Man 
nity  of  the  theocracy,  demanded  his  immediate 
death. 

I  But  even  as  they  talked  they  were  conscious 
of  their  impotence.  They  were  powerless  to  act. 
It  would  be  suicidal,  it  would  subvert  their  very 
object,  should  they  attempt  to  lay  hold  of  their 
enemy  in  the  crowded  streets  or  the  Temple 
courts.  The  excitable  provincials  would  rise  in 
revolt.  Yet,  where  else  could  they  find  him? 
How  would  it  be  possible  to  take  him  by 
stealth  ? 

The  answer  came  from  a  most  unexpected 
source. 

j"  One  of  his  own  disciples,  Judas  Iscariot,  came 
to  them  voluntarily  and  offered  to  betray  his 
master.  He  would  let  them  know  when  and 
where  he  could  be  found,  so  that  his  arrest  could 
be  accomplished  without  interference. 

[221] 


The  Story  of      If  Such  base  treachery  astonished  even  these  un- 

a  Younv  Man     scrupulous  men,  yet  they  did  not  delay  in  taking 

advantage  of  it,  and  at  once  paid  the  man  the 

reward  he  asked — thirty  shekels:  the  price  of 

a  slave. 

ff  In  common  with  the  rest  of  the  disciples 
Judas  had  long  been  unable  to  rid  himself  of  the 
commonly  accepted  Jewish  idea  regarding  the 
character  of  the  Messiah.  Notwithstanding  their 
master's  careful  and  oft-repeated  explanations, 
these  simple-minded  men  persisted  in  the  belief 
that  the  Kingdom  of  God  was  in  some  way  a 
material  one,  and  that  upon  its  establishment 
they  would  be  rewarded  with  special  honors. 
fT  The  refusal  of  Jesus,  however,  to  avail  him- 
self of  the  opportunity  offered  him  upon  his 
entrance  into  the  city  on  Sunday  had  finally 
convinced  them  of  the  error  of  their  selfish 
ideas.  But,  with  the  exception  of  Judas,  it 
brought  no  change  in  their  love  and  attach- 

[222] 


ment  for  the  master.  Their  lives  were  dedicated     <j*fo  S(0rv  Of 
to  him.  They  would  follow  wherever  he  might    a  Young  Man 
lead. 

fj"  To  Judas,  however,  it  was  a  bitter  disappoint- 
ment. His  worldly  hopes  and  ambitions  were 
shattered.  He  felt  that  he  had  been  wronged; 
that  he  had  been  deceived.  For  all  these  months 
he  had  patiently  endured  the  dangers  and  hard- 
ships that  had  come  to  Jesus  and  his  disciples, 
and  now  he  found  that  he  was  to  have  nothing — 
no  substantial  remuneration.  His  sordid  nature 
was  filled  with  resentment,  and  he  forthwith 
determined  to  forsake  his  master  and  to  seek 
revenge  by  placing  him  in  the  hands  of  his 
enemies. 


[223] 


T  was  Thursday  night — the  night 
of  the  Passover  supper.  The  light 
of  the  moon  rising  over  the  city 
shone  dimly  through  the  window 
of  a  small  room  in  a  house  in  Jerusalem  where 
Jesus  and  eleven  of  his  disciples  were  gathered 
together.  Judas  was  not  with  them.  He  had 
withdrawn  earlier  in  the  evening,  while  they 
were  yet  eating,  for  Jesus  and  his  companions 
had  met  at  this  place  to  celebrate  the  paschal 
supper. 

The  meal  having  been  finished,  the  remain- 
ing disciples  now  reclined  about  the  table  listen- 
ing to  their  master.  An  unexplainable  feeling  of 
sadness  cast  a  shadow  over  the  little  group.  In 
the  dim  and  flickering  light  of  the  festal  lamps 
they  gazed  in  pensive  silence  upon  the  face  of 

[225] 


CHAPTER 
SIXTEEN 


The  Story  of  Jesus  as  he  sat  in  their  midst  and  talked  to  them. 
There  was  a  melancholy  pathos,  a  strange  mean- 
ing, in  his  words  to-night  which  the  disciples 
knew  not  how  to  interpret.  He  spoke  as  though 
he  were  about  to  leave  them;  as  though  they 
were  soon  to  be  separated.  They  knew  not  what 
it  meant,  yet  their  hearts  were  stirred  with  a 
vague  premonition  of  impending  calamity. 
Never  had  he  seemed  so  near,  so  dear,  to  them. 

The  hours  passed  by,  and  it  was  nearly  mid- 
night ere  Jesus  and  his  disciples  sang  the  con- 
cluding hymn  of  the  holy  supper.  Passing  out 
of  the  house  and  turning  their  steps  in  the  di- 
rection of  Mount  Olivet,  Jesus  led  the  way  to 
one  of  his  favorite  haunts — a  small  olive  orchard 
called  Gethsemane;  a  place  dear  to  him  as  one 
in  which  he  had  ofttimes  spent  the  night  in 
sweet  communion  with  the  Father. 

Leaving  the  disciples  to  themselves,  he  with- 
drew to  a  secluded  spot,  apart  from  the  sight  and 

[226] 


hearing  of  all  save  One.  And  there  in  the  still-  cffc  gfory  of 
ness  and  solitude  of  the  midnight  hour  he  sank  a  Young  Man 
upon  the  ground  and  buried  his  face  in  his 
hands.  The  pent-up  emotions  of  a  sublime  soul 
overwrought  with  sorrow  broke  forth  in  con- 
vulsive anguish.  In  the  agony  of  a  tortured  and 
despairing  heart  he  cried  aloud  to  God.  His  suf- 
ferings were  more  than  he  could  bear  alone. 
«  He  knew  of  the  treachery  of  Judas.  He  real- 
ized what  it  meant.  Even  now  his  enemies  were 
preparing  to  take  him.  They  would  put  him  to 
death  !  The  doom  that  had  so  long  hung  over 
him  was  about  to  be  fulfilled.  But  must  he  die? 
Must  he  give  up  the  world,  his  friends,  his  work  ? 
No,  no !  life  was  still  so  full  of  promise,  so  full  of 
wondrous  possibilities.  He  was  young  —  only 
thirty-three;  he  had  strength  and  health;  his 
work  was  scarcely  begun.  Life  was  still  before 
him.  But,  alas!  the  world  had  forsaken  him! 
His  fellow-men  would  put  him  to  death !  All  was 

[227] 


'The  Story  of      darkness  and  despair.  Oh,  for  some  ray  of  hope ; 

a  Toung  Man  some  word  of  comfort !  Did  not  the  Father  hear 
him  ?  Could  it  be  that  He,too,  had  forsaken  Him? 
i  But  even  as  he  prayed  his  voice  grew  softer. 
A  heavenly  radiance  overspread  his  counte- 
nance. A  wondrous  calm  possessed  his  being. 
The  storm  had  passed;  fears  and  despairing 
doubts  were  dispelled.  His  soul  was  at  peace. 
The  will  of  God  — it  was  the  light,  the  answer- 
ing voice,  from  Heaven. 

[[  Scarcely  had  he  risen  when  the  sound  of 
voices  and  the  tramp  of  feet  reached  his  ears, 
and  a  few  moments  later  a  body  of  men  and  sol- 
diers, carrying  lanterns  and  armed  with  swords 
and  clubs,  came  upon  him.  At  their  head  was 
Judas.  Stepping  up  to  Jesus  he  saluted  him  with 
a  kiss.  It  was  a  prearranged  signal,  and  the  next 
moment  the  rough  crowd  surrounded  Jesus,  and, 
binding  him  with  cords,  hurried  away  with  him 
toward  the  city. 

[228] 


Copyright,  1901,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


JUDAS 


^Awakened  from  their  slumbers  by  the  tumult,      e^Ae  Story  of 
the  disciples  made  a  hasty  attempt  to  interfere;     a  Young  Man 
but  perceiving  themselves  outnumbered  they 
fled  in  terror  and  bewilderment,  leaving  their 
master  to  his  fate. 

^[  Caiaphas,  with  a  number  of  the  chief  priests 
and  other  dignitaries,  was  waiting  for  him  in  the 
council  hall  of  his  palace.  The  minds  of  his 
judges  were  already  made  up.  Their  verdict  was 
predetermined,  but  due  formality  required  that 
there  should  at  least  be  a  semblance  of  a  trial. 
Accordingly,  a  number  of  witnesses  were 
brought  forward  and  examined  as  to  the  teach- 
ings and  claims  of  the  Galilean;  but  their  evi- 
dence was  weak  and  contradictory.  It  proved 
nothing. 

^[  Chagrined  and  angered  at  his  failure  to  estab- 
lish a  formal  accusation  against  Jesus,  Caiaphas 
now  turned  to  the  prisoner,  determined  to  in- 
criminate him  by  his  own  words,  and  solemnly 


'The  Story  of       commanded  him  to  answer  whether  he  was  the 

a  Young  Man     Messiah,  the  Son  of  God. 

ff  Drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and 
looking  his  proud  persecutor  squarely  in  the 
face,  he  replied,  with  all  the  solemnity  of  his 
eloquent  voice,  "I  am." 

f[  Caiaphas  had  gained  his  point.  With  feigned 
horror  he  cried  out:  "Behold,  he  has  spoken 
blasphemy !  What  need  have  we  for  further  tes- 
timony?" And  forthwith  the  council  convicted 
him  and  passed  sentence  upon  him ;  condemn- 
ing him  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Roman  Gov- 
ernor in  the  morning,  to  be  put  to  death.  His 
persecutors  knew  full  well  that  the  accusation 
of  blasphemy  was  one  that  the  civil  law  of  the 
Romans  would  not  recognize,  but  it  would  at 
least  serve  as  a  pretext  for  bringing  him  before 
the  Governor. 

ff  Retiring  from  the  hall,  Caiaphas  and  his  as- 
sociates left  Jesus  in  the  hands  of  the  guards, 

[2321 


who  gave  vent  to  their  coarse  feelings  by  insult-     cfhe  Story  of 
ing  and  abusing  their  helpless  prisoner ;  spitting    a  Younv  Man 
upon  him,  pushing  him  about  from  one  to  an- 
other, and,  with  shouts  of  brutal  laughter,  call- 
ing upon  him  to  manifest  his  miraculous  powers 
by  naming  those  who  struck  him  as  they  held 
him  blindfolded. 

The  sun  had  scarcely  risen  when  Caiaphas 
and  his  associates  hurried  their  prisoner  to  the 
palace  of  Pontius  Pilate,  the  Roman  Governor. 
Though  the  hour  was  early  the  news  of  the 
arrest  of  Jesus  had  already  spread  throughout 
the  city,  and  as  the  court  of  the  Governor  was 
at  this  time  of  the  year  held  in  the  open  air,  on 
a  raised  tribunal  in  front  of  the  palace,  the  sur- 
rounding space  was  soon  filled  with  a  mass  of 
men  and  women  eager  to  learn  the  fate  of  the 
Galilean. 

*|    Caiaphas  had  hoped  that  Pilate  would  accept 
the  finding  of  the  council  and  carry  out  its 

[233] 


The  Story  of      wishes  without  question ;  but  the  Governor  in- 
a  Young  Man    sisted  on  knowing  the  charge  upon  which  he 
was  asked  to  condemn  the  prisoner  to  death. 

"He  calls  himself  a  king?"  came  the  answer. 
"He  would  stir  the  nation  to  revolt!  " 

1  But  taking  him  aside  and  questioning  him, 
Pilate  soon  perceived  that  the  accusation  was 
a  false  one;  that  Jesus  made  no  pretensions  to 
an  earthly  throne,  and  he  forthwith  acquitted 
him. 

1  But  the  Jews  would  not  accept  the  decision. 
They  insisted  that  he  had  excited  the  people 
with  seditious  teachings,  and  that  he  should  be 
treated  as  an  enemy  of  the  state. 

f  Fearing  to  offend  the  populace,  yet  realizing 
that  the  charges  against  Jesus  were  actuated 
solely  by  religious  hatred,  and  were  not  worthy 
of  his  official  notice,  Pilate  sought  to  clear  him- 
self of  the  dilemma  by  sending  the  prisoner  to 
Herod  Antipas,  who  was  then  in  Jerusalem,  and 

[234] 


who  as  the  Tetrarch  of  Galilee  had  authority  to     The  Story  of 
pass  judgment  upon  a  Galilean.  His  official  resi-    a  *oung  Man 
dence  was  not  far  from  the  palace,  and  thither 
Jesus  was  taken  in  rough  haste  by  a  guard  of 
soldiers,  followed  by  the  clamorous  crowd. 

I  But  Herod  was  as  loath  as  Pilate  to  condemn 
to  death  a  man  in  whom  he  could  find  no  guilt. 
Nevertheless  he  treated  Jesus  with  the  utmost 
insolence  and  contempt,  and  after  vainly  en- 
deavoring to  elicit  some  response  to  his  banter- 
ing questions  he  had  a  gorgeous  robe  thrown 
upon  the  shoulders  of  Jesus,  in  mockery  of  royal 
distinction,  and  sent  him  back  with  his  accusers 
to  the  Governor. 

[j  It  was  customary  at  the  Passover  to  set  free 
some  one  of  the  state  prisoners,  upon  the  appli- 
cation of  the  Jews.  Pilate  now  called  attention 
to  this  custom,  hoping  that  the  people  would 
ask  for  the  release  of  Jesus.  But,  acting  upon 
the  instructions  of  Caiaphas  and  the  chief  priests, 

[235] 


The  Story  of       tne  crowds  called  for  Barabbas,  a  Jew  con- 
a  Young  Man     demned  to  death  for  taking  part  in  a  recent  in- 
surrection. They  did  not  want  Jesus.  He  must 
die! 

I  Pilate  endeavored  to  reason  with  them.  They 
retorted  with  further  accusations  against  the 
prisoner.  Pilate  expostulated.  They  defied  him ; 
they  reproached  him.  He  appealed  to  their  sense 
of  justice,  their  pride,  their  religion;  but  his 
words  were  drowned  in  a  tumult  of  raging 
voices.  They  would  not  listen;  they  would  not 
reason.  The  Galilean  must  die!  Let  his  blood 
be  upon  them — upon  their  children;  let  the 
consequences  be  what  they  might,  he  must  be 
put  to  death! 

Then  out  of  the  noise  and  confusion  rose  a 
cry — a  fierce,  outleaping  cry,  born  of  the  demon 
spirit  of  the  mob — "Crucify  him!" 
^[  "Yea,  crucify  him !  Crucify  him!"  The  cry 
was  taken  up  by  the  multitude.  It  was  shouted; 

[236] 


Copyright,  1901,  by  The  Curtis 
Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


PONTIUS 
PILATE 


it  was  yelled ;  it  was  shrieked.  It  rose  to  Heaven     The  Story  of 
in   frenzied   chorus:    "Crucify   him!   Crucify     a  Toung  Man 
him!" 

^[  Irresolute,  weak  and  timid,  Pilate  was  over- 
borne by  the  furious  will  of  the  populace.  Turn- 
ing to  his  guards  he  commanded  that  Jesus  be 
scourged  — a  punishment  preliminary  to  cruci- 
fixion. 

^[  Binding  the  prisoner's  hands  to  a  post  the 
soldiers  smote  him  upon  the  bare  back  with 
braided  cords  of  leather  tipped  with  sharp- 
pointed  bones  and  lumps  of  lead;  smote  him 
until  he  fell  bleeding  and  quivering  with  un- 
bearable pain.  Dragging  him  into  the  palace 
the  guards  still  further  abused  him  with  blows 
and  wanton  jests;  saluting  him  amid  foul  and 
boisterous  mirth  as  "  King  of  the  Jews,"  after 
placing  upon  him  a  scarlet  cloak  and  pressing 
upon  his  brow  with  malicious  force  a  hastily 
made  crown  of  thorns. 

[239] 


The  Story  of  \  In  this  guise  Pilate  again  brought  him  out 
a  Young  Man  before  the  people,  vainly  hoping  that  the  pun- 
ishment so  unmercifully  inflicted  upon  the  pris- 
oner would  satisfy  their  vengeful  feelings.Weak 
and  suffering,  yet  uttering  no  word  of  complaint 
nor  of  protest,  his  hands  bound  before  him,  and 
his  pale  features  stained  with  the  marks  of  blood, 
Jesus  gazed  yearningly  upon  the  mass  of  up- 
turned faces  before  him.  Nowhere  was  there  a 
pitying  smile,  a  sympathetic  look. 

His  friends  had  deserted  him.  Not  one  had 
had  the  courage  to  come  forward  in  his  behalf 
nor  to  offer  him  even  the  comfort  of  a  friendly 
presence.  Of  the  thousands  who  a  few  days  be- 
fore were  greeting  him  as  their  king  many  had 
renounced  their  allegiance,  out  of  fear  at  the 
news  of  his  arrest ;  while  others,  angered  at  his 
failure  to  realize  their  expectations,  had  turned 
against  him  and  joined  his  enemies  in  clamoring 
for  his  life. 

[240] 


r  Fury  and  sullen  animosity  alone  met  his  gaze     The  Story  of 
as  he  stood  now  in  pathetic  helplessness  before     a  Young  Man 
the  people,  mutely  appealing  to  their  mercy. 
^["Crucify  him!  Crucify  him!"  That  alone 
was  their  response;  that  alone  was  the  answer 
from    the   lips  of  his  fellow-men  —  his  own 
countrymen,  his  own  brotherhood. 

1  His  doom  was  sealed.  Mercy,  justice,  reason 
were  borne  down  before  the  storm  of  fanaticism 
and  hatred.  "  Crucify  him !  Away  with  him ! 
Away  with  him !  Let  the  sentence  of  death  be 
executed! " 

The  morning  was  now  well  advanced.  The 
whole  city  was  aroused.  Jesus,  the  Galilean,  had 
been  condemned  to  die. 

|j"  Surrounded  by  a  military  guard  Jesus  was  led 
through  the  streets  of  Jerusalem.  A  turbulent 
concourse  of  men  and  boys  pressed  after  him 
with  shouts  and  gesticulations,  while  from  the 
dense  crowds  that  lined  the  way  on  both  sides 


The  Story  of  came  the  tumult  of  thousands  of  excited  voices, 
a  Younv  Man  mingled  with  the  lamentations  of  women  and 
the  derisive  laughter  of  hardened  men  as  they 
caught  sight  of  the  hapless  victim. 
*[[  Across  his  shoulders  were  the  heavy  beams  of 
a  cross,  and  beneath  their  cruel  weight  he  moved 
with  feeble,  faltering  steps;  his  body  bent  to  a 
stooping  posture,  and  his  fastened  hands  trem- 
bling in  piteous  helplessness.  The  physical  tor- 
tures he  had  endured  for  the  past  nine  hours  had 
robbed  him  of  all  strength.  Many  of  his  wounds 
were  still  bleeding.  Every  movement  intensified 
his  sufferings.  His  steps  became  slower  and  more 
feeble.  The  weight  of  his  burden  was  crushing 
him  to  earth.  He  could  bear  it  no  longer. 
He  could  go  no  farther.  With  a  moan  he  sank 
upon  the  ground,  exhausted. 
^[  With  brutal  indifference  the  guards  attempted 
to  drag  him  on,  when  a  man  in  the  crowd  inter- 
ceded. He  was  at  once  seized  upon  and  com- 

[242] 


"He  could  go  no  farther.  With  a  moan  he  sank  upon  the  ground,  exhausted 

Copyright,  1900,  by  The  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  Philadelphia 


pelled  to  carry  the  cross  in  punishment  for  his     77^  Story  of 
sympathy.  a  Young  Man 

Thus  relieved,  Jesus  moved  forward  with  tot- 
tering steps.  The  vulgar  rabble  hooted  and  j  eered. 
His  sufferings  excited  the  merriment  of  those 
about  him.  They  taunted  him  with  mocking 
epithets,  and  gave  expression  to  their  sentiments 
in  coarse  and  noisy  jests  that  were  shouted  back 
and  forth  through  the  surging  crowd. 

[  Only  here  and  there  a  pitying  face  looked  on. 
Standing  apart,  broken-hearted  and  crushed 
with  grief,  was  the  gentle  and  loving  Mary. 
Her  agony  of  spirit  was  beyond  the  relief  of  tears. 
In  mute  despair  she  held  out  her  arms  toward 
the  suffering  martyr  —  her  son,  her  Jesus! 

]  Grouped  about  her,  and  endeavoring  in  vain 
to  comfort  the  poor  mother,  were  three  or  four 
others.  Among  them  was  Mary  of  Magdala,  a 
young  woman  who  had  devotedly  followed 
Jesus  from  Galilee  and  had  remained  true  to 

["45] 


The  Story  of  ner  revered  master  in  the  midst  of  trials  that 
a  Young  Man  had  driven  away  even  the  disciples.  Yet  of  the 
twelve  there  was  one  whose  faith  and  courage 
had  not  forsaken  him.  John,  he  whom  Jesus 
loved  most  dearly,  was  now  standing  with  the 
little  group  of  sorrowing  women,  gazing  with 
bleeding  heart  upon  his  beloved  friend,  and 
yearning  to  comfort  and  to  aid  him  in  this  his 
awful  hour  of  affliction. 

f[  Wearily  he  climbed  the  steep  road  that  led  to 
the  summit  of  a  hill  a  short  distance  beyond  the 
city  walls.  It  was  the  place  of  execution.  Two 
criminals  had  been  brought  from  the  palace 
with  him,  and  they,  too,  were  about  to  die — to 
be  crucified.  No  mode  of  punishment  was  more 
cruel,  more  horrible.  With  arms  outstretched 
and  fastened  to  the  cross  by  nails  driven  through 
the  hands,  and  with  feet  nailed  flat  against  the 
upright  post,  the  naked  victim  was  left  in  ago- 
nizing torment  to  a  slow  and  hideous  death. 

[246] 


*          *          *          *          *          *          *  The  Story  of 

a  Young  Man 

\  Several  hours  had  passed.  It  was  now  nearly 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Three  crosses, 
each  with  its  suffering  victim,  stood  upon  the 
brow  of  the  hill.  The  one  in  the  centre  bore 
above  it  a  derisive  inscription: 

JESUS  OF  NAZARETH 
The  King  of  the  Jews 

The  scorching  sun  beat  down  upon  his  quiver- 
ing, unprotected  body.  Unable  to  move,  unable 
to  relieve  for  an  instant  the  maddening,  intoler- 
able tension,  he  hung  suspended  by  his  out- 
stretched arms;  every  muscle  writhing  with 
agony;  every  nerve,  every  fibre  of  his  being, 
throbbing  and  pulsing  with  excruciating  tor- 
ture. 

I  Persons  passing  by  looked  up  and  laughed. 
For  hours  the  heartless  crowds  had  mocked  him 
and  reviled  him.  Then,  tiring  of  their  brutal 

[247] 


The  Story  of  sport,  they  had  left  him.  Other  interests  drew 
a  Toung  Man  them  elsewhere.  The  excitement  of  the  morn- 
ing died  away.  The  incident  was  forgotten.  The 
people  returned  to  their  daily  occupations,  and 
the  busy  life  of  the  world  passed  on.  Jesus,  the 
Galilean,  no  longer  played  a  part  in  the  drama 
of  human  affairs. 

He  was  dying.  His  weak  and  tortured  frame 
quivered  with  the  last  pangs  of  agony.  He  was 
alone ;  deserted ;  forsaken.  Alone  in  the  darkness 
of  infinite  sorrow ;  yielding  up  his  life  for  the 
sake  of  an  ungrateful  and  iniquitous  world  —  a 
sacrifice  transcendent,  inscrutable.  With  a  great 
sob  his  head  fell  upon  his  breast. 

I   His  life's  mission  was  fulfilled. 


\ 


ARRANGED  AND  PRINTED  FOR 
L.  C.  PAGE  &  COMPANY  BT  THE 
HEINTZEMANN  PRESS  OF  BOSTON, 
MASSACHUSETTS 


1B2SR 


A     000  677  098     6 

^ 


